The Russian freighter Lady R (top left) docked at the Simonstown Naval Base near Cape Town, South Africa, in December 2022 Photo: NIC BOTHMA/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK
South Africa provided arms and ammunition to Russia when Vladimir Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, the US said.
The US ambassador said the country had loaded arms and ammunition onto a Russian ship, despite Pretoria's stated desire to remain neutral in the conflict.
Reuben E. Brighetti II said Washington was convinced his intelligence was correct and considered the arming of Russian troops “extremely serious.”
His outright accusation followed months of Western diplomats' displeasure that Cyril Ramaphosa's government was being sucked up to Russia, despite its invasion of Ukraine.
A sanctioned Russian cargo ship called the Lady R was spotted in December at a naval base near Cape Town. The arrival of the 7,260-ton ship of a Russian company registered in Dagestan aroused widespread suspicion at the time, but its cargo was never confirmed.
Ammunition for AK-47 assault rifles
“Among what we noted was docking of a cargo ship at the Simonstown Naval Base between December 6 and 8, 2022, and we are confident that this ship in Simonstown was loaded with weapons and ammunition when it returned to Russia,” said Mr Brighetti, according to News24.
He continued: “The arming of the Russians is extremely serious and we do not consider this issue settled and we would like South Africa to [begin to] practice its policy of non-alignment.”
Erika Gibson, leading South African defense expert, told The Telegraph that the shipment most likely contained small arms ammunition. would be useful to the Kremlin's war effort, and he said it was more likely that South Africa was buying from Russia.
John Steenhuizen, leader of the opposition Democratic Alliance party, accused the government of lying about South Africa's involvement in the conflict.
He said the US allegations were “chilling and deeply disturbing confirmation that President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government are actively participate in the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.
He said: “This event proves not only that South Africa is not non-aligned in Russia's war against Ukraine, but also that President Ramaphosa and his government have already lied to South Africa and the world about our country's involvement in this devastating conflict.”
South Africa said it did not want to take sides in the conflict and refused to condemn the invasion of its fellow BRICS bloc. The ruling African National Congress has maintained cordial relations with Moscow for decades after the USSR supported its fight against apartheid.
Sergey Lavrov, Russian Foreign Minister, was warmly welcomed in January, and the South African Navy conducted joint naval exercises with Russia and China in the Indian Ocean in March.
The South African president said that the allegations of arms transfers had already been discussed with US officials, but no evidence was provided to support the allegations.< /p>
The statement said: “The ambassador's remarks undermine the spirit of cooperation and partnership that characterized recent meetings between US government officials and the official South African delegation.”
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