Die Bom – Suid-Afrika se kernwapenprogram by Nic von Wielligh & Lydia von Wielligh-Steyn

Die Bom – Suid-Afrika se kernwapenprogram is the Afrikaans account of South Africa’s nuclear weapons programme by Nic von Wielligh, written with his daughter Lydia von Wielligh-Steyn. It was published by Litera Publikasies in Pretoria in 2014, and this copy is the first edition, first printing.

Von Wielligh, a nuclear physicist, was involved from 1975 in the production of weapons-grade material, and later in the dismantling of the weapons and in demonstrating South Africa’s good faith to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Die Bom covers the science of the atom and its pioneers, uranium enrichment, the international nuclear arms race and South Africa’s own role, along with episodes of espionage and nuclear smuggling.

South Africa secretly built six nuclear devices and then destroyed them, a fact revealed in 1993; no other country has voluntarily given up its nuclear arsenal. Written by one of the scientists at the centre of that story, Die Bom – Suid-Afrika se kernwapenprogram remains the most complete account of the programme in Afrikaans, and the book is now out of print.

This title will appeal to Afrikaans readers of South African history, those interested in the Cold War and Border War era, students of science and nuclear policy, and collectors of Afrikaans Africana.

Condition – Near Fine

A near fine, almost as-new copy of Die Bom in the first edition, first printing, with no notable defects. The covers are clean and bright, the spine is uncreased and the binding is firm. The original bookseller’s price label remains on the rear cover. The text pages are clean and unmarked throughout.