Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa says the findings of the Lady R investigation were well-received internationally, and there was no reason to doubt the rationality of the independent panel’s findings regarding the docking of a Russian vessel in Simons Town.
The president said this on Thursday, as he addressed oral questions in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) regarding the Lady R and various other matters.
He defended the government against allegations of selling weapons to Russia.
The president highlighted that the probe led by Judge Phineas Mojapelo concluded that no laws were violated, and the international response to the findings has been positive, EWN reported.
“We have received nothing but positive comments all round and may I say globally as well. They have been really pleased with the manner in which we addressed this issue that was hyped to incredible levels that sought to tarnish the image of our country,” the report quoted him as saying.
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Ramaphosa said that the matter had a negative impact on the country’s economy, but diplomatic measures were taken to address it.
However, according to The Citizen, Franszouis Du Toit, a member of the Freedom Front Plus, accused him of hiding behind the National Conventional Arms Control Act to avoid transparency regarding events at the Simon’s Town Naval Base in December 2022.
The allegations arose when US ambassador Reuben Brigety claimed that South Africa supplied ammunition to Russia through the Russian vessel Lady R, which docked at the naval base.
Du Toit questioned the lack of transparency and the fact that the president appointed the panel, to which Ramaphosa replied that there was no alternative authority to appoint the inquiry and cited national security as the reason for keeping certain information confidential.
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“The independent panel that I appointed to investigate the circumstances surrounding the docking of the Lady R vessel in Simon’s Town in December 2022 was led by a respected, reputable retired judge and two prominent, respected legal minds. The extent of the work undertaken and the information that the panel sought, obtained and analysed gives me full confidence in the content of their report,” said Ramaphosa.
“By the way, as they commenced their work, they asked anyone with information to come forward and present whatever information they could have had. They received information and interviewed several people who had submitted information. I have no reason whatsoever to believe the findings of the panel were irrational. In fact, I believe the findings of the panel were completely rational. As I went through the report, I could find no irrationality.
“The panel made no [mention of] funding or involvement by clandestine parties or illegal transactions, and no evidence has been presented to contradict the panel’s findings, Ramaphosa said, according to the report.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
