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South Africa has virtually no control over its radioactive materials

The current situation is a serious indictment on the ANC-government, as it will result or has already resulted in South African citizens being exposed to unnecessary radiation and danger…..

Govt’s radiation control dept almost kaput,  Politicsweb, – DAMike Waters 12 September 2010 Mike Waters says vacancy rate at 50%, 64% inspections outstandingRadiation Control Directorate: Non-operation poses threat to public safety The Democratic Alliance (DA) is in possession of internal documents dating as far back as 2003, which reveal that the Department of Health’s Directorate for Radiation Control is almost non-operational. According to the documents, the Radionuclide Sub-Directorate has, due to understaffing, been unable to investigate 358 lost radiation devices across the country, and in terms of enforcing compliance to users of such devices, more than “398 authority holders did not renew their authorities” and are therefore illegally in possession of the devices. Broken down by region, the documents reveal that 73 of these are in the Durban region, 226 in the Pretoria region and 99 in the Cape Town region……..
The DA believe the collapse of the Radionuclide Sub-Directorate could possibly have major implications for national security. The lack of regulatory control potentially allows for criminal elements to use and trade radioactive materials for illicit purposes, as was possibly the case when the media recently reported the arrest by the Hawks of four men trying to sell an industrial radiation device in Pretoria earlier this year. Illegitimate possession, loss or damage of radionuclides may result in severe health risks stemming from radiation poisoning, which causes tissue damage, cancer and even death. The current situation is a serious indictment on the ANC-government, as it will result or has already resulted in South African citizens being exposed to unnecessary radiation and danger…..

Politicsweb – Govt`s radiation control dept almost kaput – DA – PARTY

September 13, 2010 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | politics, South Africa | antinuclear, nuclear, nuclear costs, nuclear secrecy, nuclear technology, radiation, radioactive, uranium