Statement by Minister J Modise at the Kempton Park Conference on landmines Kempton Park Plan of Action, 19-21 May 1997

TOWARDS A LANDMINE-FREE AFRICA

Closing Plenary Address: Mr Joe Modise, Minister of Defence of the Republic of South Africa

As we approach the closing moments of this conference, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate that the people of South Africa have been honoured to have this, the first continental meeting of African landmine experts, held here in Kempton Park . In this regard, I would like to thank those donor countries, organisations and non-governmental organisations that have made this conference possible. Many thanks also to the Institute for Security Studies for having facilitated the success of our work through their excellent organisation and planning.

I trust that the conclusion of this conference will point to the problems of anti-personnel landmines in a holistic and integrated manner. The main elements are interdependent and should include:

prohibition on the use, production, development, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel landmines;
alleviating the human suffering by providing adequate medical attention, rehabilitation and victim assistance; and
removal of the millions of emplaced mines as quickly as possible.

Due to the enormity of this problem, a number of intermediate objectives will need to be prioritised in order to maximise the humanitarian impact.

For example, priority would have to be given to mine-clearance:

in contaminated areas where there is a high casualty rate;
in support of subsistence agriculture;
in support of reconstruction and development; and
in support of the delivery of humanitarian assistance.

The only lasting solution to prevent the current anti-personnel landmine problem is to ban this deadly weapon and eradicate it from the arsenals of our armed forces. In this regard I am pleased to announce that I have just returned from the site of the first phase of the destruction of South Africa 's stockpile. As declared on 20 February, the announcement of South Africa 's decision to ban anti-personnel landmines was accompanied by the decision to destroy our stockpile. Transparency is an important element in the destruction of our stockpile, as well as the firm belief that, until all countries have co-operated in eliminating of stockpiles of anti-personnel landmines, there is no guarantee that they may not be used. Therefore, I wish to state categorically that the current inventory before the destruction of the SANDF's stockpile of anti-personnel landmines is as follows:

Anti-personnel landmines	186 408
Practise APLs	13 038
Jumping mines (J69)	48 484
Practise jumping mines	2 059
Foreign mines	11 434

The total is therefore 261 423 with an approximate value of R39 million.

The first phase of the destruction of our stockpile was conducted this morning by a series of controlled detonations. This took place at the Alkantpan testing range in the Northern Cape .

The event was witnessed by representatives of the International Red Cross, the South African Campaign to Ban Landmines, members of Parliament and the media.

Chairperson, due to the composition of these mines, which are mainly plastic, not all the mines will be destroyed by means of explosives. The anti-personnel mines will therefore be destroyed in the following manner:

the explosives will be removed and burnt, while the casings will be shredded and sold as scrap plastic;
all jumping and foreign mines will be destroyed by means of detonation.

Environmental studies will be conducted before and after the destruction of these mines to ensure that damage to the environment is minimised.

The total cost of destroying our entire stockpile of anti-personnel mines is established at R1 183 591. These are funds well spent.

As long as the threat of landmines exists, the South African National Defence Force must be capable of deactivating and clearing this menace. They must therefore be able to neutralise such mines if confronted with the problem in an operational or mine-clearance situation. South Africa will thus be retaining a limited and verifiable number of anti-personnel mines solely for two reasons:

to train specific military personnel in demining techniques; and
for research to assisting the demining process.

The following mines will be kept in stock:

a total of 5 000 anti-personnel mines; and
a total of 13 000 practise mines.

In conclusion, Chairperson, over the past three days there has been much discussion about the intolerable burden placed on civil society through the suffering caused by anti-personnel landmines. Like Archbishop Tutu and the others who have spoken at this conference, I appeal to representatives here today to strive to make our African continent and the whole world an anti-personnel landmine-free zone: a safer place for our children and for succeeding generations.