Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, reports to the Senate on the Arms Industry and defines the main aims of South Africa’s defence policy.

Date: 12 Mar 1968
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, reports to the Senate on the Arms Industry and defines the main aims of South Africa's defence policy. The paranoia that afflicted the Apartheid State regarding a potential uprising by Black South Africans, supported by the Soviet Union and the reluctance of Western Governments to supply South Africa with arms convinced the regime that it needed to develop its own means of producing and servicing its armed forces. These included the provision of manufacturing capabilities regarding nuclear arms, ammunition, aeronautics and armour. These are among the points outlined by P.W. Botha on 12 March 1968, the then Minister of Defence. History has shown that South Africa was successful in accomplishing most of these goals that emerged from this report. Unfortunately, the greatest threat to Apartheid was not a military in nature, but a social one that comprised of people and organisations within and outside South Africa, exerting pressure on the state to eventually abandon Apartheid

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01Gomm.N,(date unknown), "South Africa's Electronic Shield",From: Military History Journal ,Vol. 2, No. 3 , [online], Available at: samilitaryhistory.org ,[Accessed 28 February 2010]
02Ndlovu.S.M, The Anc and the World as published in South African Democracy Education Trust, The Road to Democracy, in South Africa Vol1(1960-1970), (2004) Paarl: South Africa, Zebra Press.
03Welsh.D, (2009), The Rise and Fall of Apartheid, Johannesburg and Cape Town: Jonathan Ball Publishers

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, reports to the Senate on the Arms Industry and defines the main aims of South Africa’s defence policy.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012096

South African History Online (2011) 'Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, reports to the Senate on the Arms Industry and defines the main aims of South Africa’s defence policy.', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012096 (Accessed: 24 September 2026).

South African History Online, Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, reports to the Senate on the Arms Industry and defines the main aims of South Africa’s defence policy. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012096, (accessed 24 September 2026).

"Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, reports to the Senate on the Arms Industry and defines the main aims of South Africa’s defence policy.." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012096. Accessed 24 Sept. 2026.

South African History Online. "Minister of Defence, P.W. Botha, reports to the Senate on the Arms Industry and defines the main aims of South Africa’s defence policy.." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0012096.