Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa says the US ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety’s remarks were “disappointing”, adding that SA is a sovereign state that “will never fall into a state of helplessness”.
Ramaphosa said this on Saturday, as he addresses ANC party members in eThekwini. The party’s National Working Committee was in the province as part of its renewal programme.
“The United States remains the largest economy in the world and we trade with them.
“Therefore as a serious country, South Africa has to deal with the United States in a serious fashion.
“That’s why when these issues came up, I decided that I should send an envoy and a delegation to the United States to address the matter. So the ambassador’s statement came as a real disappointment to us,” said Ramaphosa.
He said that he was glad that the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor had held a meeting with Brigety.
“I’m glad the Minister of International Relations dealt with him and dealt with the issue and we are prepared to deal with it along diplomatic lines,” he said.
ALSO READ | US ambassador has ‘apologised unreservedly’ for Russia arms claim – Dirco
He added: “And so sometimes these things happen, you take them in your stride and you deal with them politically and you should move on.”
Brigety was on Friday summoned to explain his conduct after he accused South Africa of aiding Russia’s war effort in the year-long conflict with Ukraine.
A statement released by the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) after the démarche confirmed that Brigety allegedly “admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly” for his comments.
Ramaphosa said he had a telephone discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier about a number of matters, including the continuing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
“And I continued, as I have in the past, to express our desire that the conflict should be resolved through negotiation.
“We are a sovereign state and we will never fall into a state of helplessness where we feel we are being undermined. And we are proud of our status, of our standing in the world. We are respected in many quarters around the world and we play our part.
ALSO READ | SA supplied weapons to Russia for Ukraine war – US
“And so sometimes these things happen. You take them in your stride and you deal with them politically and you move on. So South Africa can never be undermined,” the president said.
Ramaphosa said discussion about whether Putin would visit South Africa for the Brics summit and how the country will handle it was still on.
“As a Brics member, he (Putin) has been invited. And the issue, as I have said before of the request by the ICC is under discussion. It’s a matter that’s being discussed and we will find solutions to all these matters, as there is no problem without a solution.
“So these matters are still in discussion, so let us allow time to be able to find all solutions,” he said.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
#LadyRussiagate: ‘We can’t afford to risk crucial trade agreements – Western Cape govt
Cape Town – The Western Cape government says it is concerned that crucial trade agreements could be at risk, as a diplomatic row between South Africa and the US continues.
Premier Alan Winde said South Africa cannot afford to risk relationships with key trading partners such as the United States.
The rand slumped to its weakest level on record against the dollar on Thursday, as a diplomatic row between South Africa and the US simmered, putting trade of as much as R400 billion at risk.
South Africa’s preferential access to US markets under a two-decade-old trade agreement is in focus after the US ambassador to Pretoria, Reuben Brigety, accused the country of supplying arms to Russia.
President Cyril Ramahosa described the comments as “disappointing,” adding that no evidence had been produced to back that up but that the countries had agreed on an independent investigation into the matter.
“We cannot afford to risk our economic and diplomatic relationships with key trading partners such as the United States of America (USA). Our economy is struggling following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and is under grave risk as a result of severe rolling blackouts. Our priority must be to protect our economy and jobs. Trade is a critical part of our path to economic stability, said Winde.
We cannot afford to risk our economic and diplomatic relationships with key trading partners such as the USA and the EU.
Read more: https://t.co/uHFGleBGFH
— Premier Alan Winde ?? (@alanwinde) May 12, 2023
He said he would be writing to Ramaphosa requesting for “a firm commitment that we will protect critical trading relationships in the interests of the many jobs that benefit, for example, from our export and tourism sector”.
Western Cape Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, Mireille Wenger, said: “The trade, investment, and tourism ties between the USA and the Western Cape are significant. The US was the Western Cape’s top foreign export market in 2021 with a value of R16.98 billion, the top source of foreign direct investment into the province over the last decade, investing more than R37 billion into the province and a major source market for international tourists. Our links with the US generate billions, contributing immensely to our economy and supporting thousands of jobs. It makes zero economic sense that national government would even consider putting the relationship with the US at risk.”
Western Cape Minister for Agriculture, Dr Ivan Meyer said: “South Africa was the largest trading partner to the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act in 2021,”
Brigety was on Friday summoned to explain his conduct after Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the government had expressed its “utter displeasure” at the ambassador’s statements.
A statement released by Dirco after the démarche confirmed that Brigety allegedly “admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly” for his comments.
The meeting between USA Ambassador to South Africa @ReubenBrigety and @DIRCO_ZA
took place this afternoon. We conveyed our displeasure with his conduct and he admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly. The relations between the USA & South Africa are cordial,… pic.twitter.com/5pBxTgyI82— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) May 12, 2023
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Picture: Twitter/ @AdvoBarryRoux
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
