Pelindaba

It is situated south-east of the Hartbeespoort Dam, approximately 33 km (22 miles) west of Pretoria, on the farm that once belonged to Gustav Preller.

[6] At the time of Pelindaba's inauguration, future cooperation between France and South Africa on nuclear technology was anticipated.

[8] In 1966, Pelindaba reported detecting elevated levels of radiation following French nuclear weapons tests in the Pacific.

[17] The same year, the London Telegraph reported that South Africa had the capability to make nuclear weapons "any time it wishes.

"[18] In 1984, the Associated Press reported that South Africa had refused international inspections of facilities at Pelindaba and associated enrichment works at Valindaba.

A 4 MV Van de Graaff particle accelerator operates at Pelindaba for various purposes in nuclear scientific research.

[25] Shortly after midnight on 8 November 2007, four armed men entered the facility and headed towards a control room in the eastern block.

[26] According to the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA), the state-owned entity that runs the facility, the four "technically sophisticated criminals" deactivated several layers of security, including a 10,000-volt electrical fence, suggesting insider knowledge of the system.

An off-duty emergency services officer, who was shot by the men after a brief struggle, triggered an alarm, alerting a nearby police station.

Abnormal levels of gamma radiation associated with xenon and krypton gases were detected, causing an emergency to be declared.