IAEA concludes lessons of Pelindaba break-in
Security experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have concluded a visit to Pelindaba, triggered by the armed break in the nuclear research complex suffered in November 2007. Necsa runs the site in the north of the country, on which the Safari-1 research reactor operates.
Security experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have concluded a visit to Pelindaba, triggered by the armed break-in the nuclear research complex suffered in November 2007.
The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) runs the site in the north of the country, on which the Safari-1 research reactor operates and a pilot nuclear fuel plant is under construction for the Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor project.
IAEA experts visited at Necsa's request "to exchange views on the lessons learned" after armed men broke into the complex on 8 November 2007 and shot a security officer.
When concluding their visit, IAEA officials said there was "no evidence that sensitive nuclear areas were under any threat at any time during the incident."
Necsa revealed little about the incident in its immediate aftermath, but have since explained that four armed men
with prior knowledge of security measures disabled several layers of security on fences before cutting their way in. They then broke into the fire station engine room and, using a ladder from one of the response vehicles, climbed to the first floor of the Emergency Control Centre. A computer was stolen from an office before the criminals moved down a corridor to the control room itself. Upon their entering, station commander Anton Gerber immediately raised the alert and challenged them. He was attacked with a pipe and shot during a struggle, while another staff member in the room was also assaulted. Gerber recovered in hospital.
Necsa also said, in a November 2007 statement, another incident in which shots were fired took place on a separate part of the site "at the same time." It did not say the two were connected. Necsa is currently offering cash rewards for information leading to a conviction and for a positive identification of any of the attackers.
An IAEA statement said a security upgrade plan at Pelindaba, that has been in progress since 2006, provides an "appropriate basis" for ensuring physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities at the site.
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