Cape Town – Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Friday slammed accusations by the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, that SA aided Russia in its war with Ukraine.
Ntshavheni said South Africa “cannot be bullied” by the US.
Brigety, on Thursday, claimed that South Africa covertly provided arms to Russia, a charge that drew an angry rebuke from Pretoria.
He told a media briefing the US believed a Russian ship, Lady R, was loaded with weapons while docked at Simon’s Town naval base in Cape Town in December.
“We are confident that weapons were loaded onto that vessel and I would bet my life on the accuracy of that assertion,” Brigety said, according to a video of the remarks.
“The arming of Russia by South Africa… is fundamentally unacceptable.”
ALSO READ | SA hits back over US charge of arms to Russia
Speaking during an interview with SABC Ntshavheni said: “The ambassador has not followed diplomatic channels in terms of dealing with issues in South Africa and this is not the first time this has happened.
“It doesn’t work. If the US has concerns about anything in South Africa, they are allowed to raise them — but the channel they need to contact is Dirco [the department of international relations and co-operation] to say these are the issues they have problems with, because we have a relationship with the US.”
According to EWN, Ntshavheni, who also oversees the country’s intelligence, said that South Africa was a sovereign state and the US must respect that.
“But we are not going to be bullied and we are not going to co-govern with the US ambassador in this country.”
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says there is no record that South Africa sold arms to Russia as per the claims by the US Ambassador to SA. She says SA will not be bullied by the USA. NN pic.twitter.com/wPNJVaIX5B
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) May 12, 2023
Meanwhile, a statement released by the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) after a démarche on Friday confirmed that Brigety had since allegedly “admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly” for his comments.
“Dirco finds this behaviour by the US ambassador to South Africa puzzling and at odds with the mutually beneficial and cordial relationship that exists between the United States of America and South Africa,” said Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela.
“South Africa is known globally for having one of the most stringent processes when selling arms to other countries.
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
“Dirco welcomed the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a judicial inquiry into the allegations.
“This process will allow for facts to be established and for role players to be identified. Anyone found to have broken the law will face severe consequences.
“South Africa calls on the US Embassy in Pretoria, to use established diplomatic channels of communication to convey any concerns or to seek clarity on any misunderstandings that may arise in the bilateral relationship,” he said.
Brigety also tweeted and confirmed his meeting with International Relations and Copoprtaion Minister Naledi Pandor.
“I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks. In our conversation, I re-affirmed the strong partnership between our two countries & the important agenda our Presidents have given us,” he said.
I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks. In our conversation, I re-affirmed the strong partnership between our two countries & the important agenda our Presidents have given us.
— Ambassador Reuben Brigety (@USAmbRSA) May 12, 2023
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Picture: Twitter/@ClaysonMonyela
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
