On 1 April 2003, the IISS hosted a Private Discussion Meeting with Chandre Gould, who gave a briefing on “A History of South Africa’s Chemical and Biological Warfare Programme: Lessons to be Learnt”. The presentation, which took place on the heels of the launch of her book on the subject, brought together officials and experts to discuss lessons to be learnt from the apartheid government’s chemical and biological weapons (CBW) programme in order to strengthen international non-proliferation efforts.
In her presentation, Chandre Gould discussed the underlying motivations and objectives of South Africa’s CBW programme which developed largely in response to the internal and external threat perceptions of the South African apartheid government. Gould also examined the structure and organisation of the programme, code-named “Project Coast”, as well as the resources which enabled it to develop. Among the numerous issues discussed by participants were the recruitment of scientists and their employment after the termination of a CBW programme.
