Cape Town – Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis has confirmed in a statement that he has requested Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, to deny Russian billionaire, Alexey Mordashov and his megayacht entry into the country.
“A R9 billion superyacht belonging to Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov departed Hong Kong last week, bound for Cape Town. To the best of our knowledge, Mr Mordashov is aboard the vessel and intends to enter South Africa through the port of Cape Town,” Hill-Lewis said.
“If this happens, Mr Mordashov — and his luxury yacht — will be considered to be guests of the South African state.” he added.
Alexey Alexandrovich Mordashov is a Russian billionaire businessman. He is the main shareholder and chairman of Severstal, Russia’s largest steel and mining company.
Hill-Lewis said that the steel industry is of key strategic significance to the Government of Russia and of the Russian war effort.
I have asked Minister Pandor to block the entry of a R9 billion superyacht, owned and sailed by sanctioned Russian oligarch Alexey Mordashov, to Cape Town’s port.
There is no place in our city for accomplices to, and enablers of, Putin’s war. https://t.co/yTqZGs1Eka pic.twitter.com/MAxOFf267t
— Geordin Hill-Lewis (@geordinhl) October 24, 2022
“The steel industry is of key strategic significance to the Government of Russia and of the Russian war effort.
“Mr Mordashov is also chairman of the company Severgroup, which is a major shareholder of Bank Rossiya, of which he personally owns a considerable share.
“Following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, Bank Rossiya expanded aggressively into the region, opening branches in both Crimea and Sevastopol, forcing the economic integration of Ukrainian territory into Russia,” Hill-Lewis said.
The Cape Town Mayor also alleged that Mr Mordashov has personally derived financial benefit from illegal activities.
“Severgroup also owns a large share of the National Media Group, which controls several Russian television stations which broadcast Russian propaganda and actively promote the Russian government’s actions in Ukraine.
“In this way, again, Mr Mordashov has helped to support activities which undermine Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and is an accomplice to the unconscionable crimes committed against Ukrainian civilians.”
??? —$500 million #superyacht owned by Russian tycoon Alexey Mordashov says farewell to Hong Kong on its way to Capetown.
?️ Mordashov, the biggest shareholder in steelmaker Severstal PJSC, was sanctioned by the #EU, The #UK and #US following Russia’s invasion of #Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/Y1jZaPRDbQ
— Intel Mule (@Intel_Mule) October 21, 2022
He argued that the founding provisions of the Constitution state the nation’s commitment to human dignity and the advancement of human rights and freedoms, and the welcoming of “an accomplice to state terrorism against innocent people” as a guest to the country would violate these values.
“If Mr Mordashov is allowed to dock and enter, I believe this is something of which we will come not only to feel ashamed as a matter of our own morality, but it will also lower our reputation and standing amongst the peace-loving nations of the world,” Hill-Lewis said.
“The National Government has a duty to nurture our country’s standing in the international community and uphold our obligations to other nations,” he added.
Hill-Lewis called once more on Minister Pandor to bar Mr Mordashov’s docking in Cape Town and his entry into the Republic.
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Picture: Twitter/ @geordinhl
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Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
