The country has declared to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) its reserves of nuclear material that could be used to make weapons, the Netwerk24 news portal reported, citing Minister Gwede Mantashe. The disclosure is part of a comprehensive safeguards agreement.

The level of uranium enrichment is classified information, he added.

The stockpile is largely made up of surplus from the apartheid-era nuclear weapons program, Netwerk24 said, citing nuclear expert Noel Stott.

South Africa is a signatory to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.