SA is ‘actively non-aligned’ in Russia’s war against Ukraine

Cape Town – National security adviser Sydney Mufamadi, says South Africa is “actively non-aligned” in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Mufamadi, who led a delegation on a US visit last month, on Saturday emphasised SA’s policy of neutrality in the conflict, reported Times Live.

“We need to explain that we indeed are actively non-aligned as far as the conflict is concerned,” Mufamadi told an online briefing.

“We will make absolutely sure that should wars break out, our contribution will always be calculated at helping the parties and everybody else to bring such conflicts to an end, the report quoted Mufamadi as saying.

The South African government has maintained a neutral stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and has abstained from voting on UN resolutions condemning the war.

Despite widespread anger at its position, the country argues that negotiations are the best option to end the conflict.

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On Thursday US ambassador to SA Reuben Brigety alleged 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.”

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.

EWN reported on Saturday that Mufamadi said South Africa’s special envoy recently deployed on a tour to the US used its meeting with the country’s diplomats to ease tensions over South Africa’s alleged ties to Russia.

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Mufamadi said the allegations that South Africa supplied Russia with arms and ammunition to aid in the invasion of Ukraine was a hot topic during the special envoy’s visit to the US.

While South African officials have since denied an illegal sale of arms, investigations are underway to look into the claims, the report said.

“Now I said there is a process underway to get to the bottom of this matter. The pronouncement or the call on the concreteness or otherwise of what has been shared so far has to be made at the end of that process.

“There is an indication that there may be supplementary information but this is not the only source of information so I’d rather you allow me to stay where my feet are.”