---
born: 1915-12-13
category: Nuclear Scientists & Programs
died: 1983-09-10
location: Jamestown, Cape Colony, South Africa
summary: John Vorster was the Prime Minister of South Africa.
tags:
- Person
- Nuclear
- Israel
---

John Vorster was the Prime Minister of [South Africa](/places/south-africa/). He had sided with [Germany](/places/germany/) during World War II. In 1976, he visited [Israel](/places/israel/), marking the first official state visit by a South African prime minister to [Israel](/places/israel/). This visit resulted in a renewal of full diplomatic relations, as well as secret arms transfer agreements that would enable the two countries to work together in defiance of international opinion and [United Nations](/organizations/united-nations/) sanctions.[^1]

[Shimon Peres](/people/shimon-peres/) made at least one private trip to Pretoria before the Vorster visit to arrange for arms and nuclear cooperation. His agenda included nuclear testing, and he won a commitment in principle from John Vorster for a series of joint Israeli–South African tests in [South Africa](/places/south-africa/).[^1]

In 1970, Vorster informed Parliament that [South Africa](/places/south-africa/)'s nuclear scientists had developed a unique uranium enrichment process involving jetnozzle enrichment and a sophisticated cascade technique. Within a few years, [South Africa](/places/south-africa/) began construction of a pilot plant for the production of enriched uranium, not subject to [IAEA](/organizations/international-atomic-energy-agency/) safeguards, at a plant called Valindaba near Pretoria.[^1]

[^1]: Hersh, Seymour M. *The Samson Option: Israel's Nuclear Arsenal and American Foreign Policy*. Random House, 1991. Chapter 19.