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Roodeplaat Research Laboratories (RRL) () was a front company established in 1983 by the
South African Defence Force The South African Defence Force (SADF) (Afrikaans: ''Suid-Afrikaanse Weermag'') comprised the armed forces of South Africa from 1957 until 1994. Shortly before the state reconstituted itself as a republic in 1961, the former Union Defence Fo ...
to research, test and produce
biological weapons Biological agents, also known as biological weapons or bioweapons, are pathogens used as weapons. In addition to these living or replicating pathogens, toxins and biotoxins are also included among the bio-agents. More than 1,200 different kin ...
within a covert operation known as Project Coast. Th
Agricultural Research Council - Plant Protection Research Institute
is now situated on this location.


Founding - Project Coast

RRL, as the research facility was commonly known, was founded in April 1982 as part of the top-secret biological and chemical weapons program known as Project Coast. This was illegal, being in violation of the international Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). Project Coast was only publicly revealed in October 1998, in the report of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission. RRL was located north of the Roodeplaat Dam near
Pretoria Pretoria ( ; ) is the Capital of South Africa, administrative capital of South Africa, serving as the seat of the Executive (government), executive branch of government, and as the host to all foreign embassies to the country. Pretoria strad ...
, next to an agricultural research station, so as not to attract attention. Daan Goosen was executive director until 1986, when he was fired for alleged breach of secrecy. Wynand Swanepoel, a dentist in the special forces, took over his post. The auditor of finances Pierre Theron was appointed personally by the then Prime Minister
Pieter Willem Botha Pieter Willem Botha, ( , ; 12 January 1916 – 31 October 2006) was a South African politician who served as the last Prime Minister of South Africa from 1978 to 1984 and as the first executive State President of South Africa from 1984 until ...
. All RRL front companies were subordinate to the South African Defence Forces (SADF) and were headed by chemical and biological weaponeer Wouter Basson.


Secret mission to develop weapons

Initially, defensive chemical and biological warfare agents were to be developed and tested in animal experiments in order to better protect the armed forces fighting in the
South African Border War The South African Border War, also known as the Namibian War of Independence, and sometimes denoted in South Africa as the Angolan Bush War, was a largely asymmetric conflict that occurred in Namibia (then South West Africa), Zambia, and Angol ...
in Namibia and Angola against
SWAPO The South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO ; , SWAVO; , SWAVO), officially known as the SWAPO Party of Namibia, is a political party and former independence movement in Namibia (formerly South West Africa). Founded in 1960, it has been ...
freedom fighters and the communist
MPLA The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (, abbr. MPLA), from 1977–1990 called the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola – Labour Party (), is an Angolan social democratic political party. The MPLA fought against the P ...
. Very soon, however, the order came to research offensive warfare agents and to develop deadly
poisons A poison is any chemical substance that is harmful or lethal to living organisms. The term is used in a wide range of scientific fields and industries, where it is often specifically defined. It may also be applied colloquially or figurati ...
that would not be detectable in an autopsy. The laboratories were not fully operational until 1985 and some also had biological safety level 3. Among other things,
brodifacoum Brodifacoum is a highly lethal 4-Hydroxycoumarins, 4-hydroxycoumarin vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant poison. In recent years, it has become one of the world's most widely used pesticides. It is typically used as a rodenticide, but is also used ...
, paraoxon, ionophore antibiotics and the nerve agents
sarin Sarin (NATO designation GB nerve_agent#G-series.html" ;"title="hort for nerve agent#G-series">G-series, "B" is an extremely toxic organophosphorus compound.tabun and VX were researched. In 1987, an expansion of the research area was discussed. Production units for
anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis'' or ''Bacillus cereus'' biovar ''anthracis''. Infection typically occurs by contact with the skin, inhalation, or intestinal absorption. Symptom onset occurs between one ...
, aflatoxins,
botulinum toxin Botulinum toxin, or botulinum neurotoxin (commonly called botox), is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium ''Clostridium botulinum'' and related species. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from axon en ...
and
tetanus toxin Tetanus toxin (TeNT) is an extremely potent neurotoxin produced by the vegetative cell of '' Clostridium tetani'' in anaerobic conditions, causing tetanus. It has no known function for clostridia in the soil environment where they are normal ...
, to name just a few, were discussed. These expansion plans, including the construction of a BSL-4 laboratory, were never realized. To keep up appearances, RRL also conducted contract research for the pharmaceutical, agricultural and medical sectors. About 15 percent of the projects were commercial in nature and some research results were also published in scientific journals.


Other SADF front organisations

* Badger Arms * Biocon (South Africa) * Civil Cooperation Bureau * Delta G Scientific Company * Electronic Magnetic Logistical Component * Geo International Trading * Infladel * Jeugkrag * Lema (company) * Military Technical Services * Protechnik * Veterans for Victory


See also

* Project Coast *
South African Border War The South African Border War, also known as the Namibian War of Independence, and sometimes denoted in South Africa as the Angolan Bush War, was a largely asymmetric conflict that occurred in Namibia (then South West Africa), Zambia, and Angol ...
* South Africa and weapons of mass destruction * Rhodesia and weapons of mass destruction * Medical experimentation in Africa * SAIMR *
Selous Scouts The Selous Scouts was a special forces unit of the Rhodesian Army that operated during the Rhodesian Bush War from 1973 until the reconstitution of the country as Zimbabwe in 1980. It was mainly responsible for infiltrating the black majority ...


References

1983 establishments in South Africa Defence companies of South Africa Biological warfare facilities Companies established in 1983 Research institutes in South Africa South Africa and weapons of mass destruction Front companies {{SouthAfrica-company-stub