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Uranium plant to undergo tests
06/09/2004 07:59 - (SA)
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| File photo of Johan Meyer appearing in the Vanderbijlpark magistrate's court. (Beeld) |
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Elise Tempelhoff, Beeld
Vanderbijlpark - A uranium enrichment plant has been taken from a factory in Vanderbijlpark's industrial area to Pelindaba under the watchful eye of representatives of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The Scorpions and members of the police's unit for crimes against the state were also at hand.
Eleven trucks were used in the operation.
The plant was reportedly built by Johan Meyer, 53, who was last week charged with trafficking in nuclear-related materials that could be used to make weapons of mass destruction.
The plant will apparently be tested at Pelindaba to determine whether "uranium went through the system".
It's been learnt that the plant, which was packed in giant crates, will be held in safe keeping in Pelindaba so that it can be used as evidence in the court case against Meyer.
Described by his colleagues as a "brilliant mechanical engineer", Meyer was arrested last Thursday at Trade Fin Engineering because he allegedly broke the laws on nuclear power and the manufacture of weapons of mass destruction.
He appeared in the regional court on Friday and is expected to apply for bail on Wednesday. He is being held in the Vanderbijlpark police cells. Plans and pictures of a complete uranium-enrichment plant were also found on the premises. The police also seized plans Meyer drew up, which may indicate that he wanted to modernise the plant or make his own modifications.
During the apartheid years, Pelindaba was the home of South Africa's nuclear weapons programme.
- Beeld
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