Cape Town – Minister in the Presidency responsible for State Security, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, has reiterated that South Africa will not be pressured into taking sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Ntshavheni made the comments during a speech at a security meeting in Russia, where she emphasised South Africa’s non-alignment position on the conflict and rejected attempts by Western countries, including Germany and the US, to influence its stance.
Ntshavheni’s speech came ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to Russia, along with five African leaders, in an attempt to mediate the war.
“With the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and South Africa’s position of demanding respect for the multilateral system, non-alignment and advocating for a peaceful and negotiated resolution of the conflict, we have witnessed attempts to mobilise the South African society against the non-alignment position taken by the government.
“We are observing claims that the government of South Africa is not able to resolve the economic challenges facing the country because the government has chosen wrong allies, based on the refrain that ‘whomever is not with us, he is against us’.
“We must also indicate that attempts to force South Africa to choose sides is not new in recent years,” said Ntshavheni.
Address to the 11th International High level meeting, in Russia on the proposed interventions. The speech focuses on new opportunities and threats globally. pic.twitter.com/zeF7eTiTAP
— Khumbudzo Ntshavheni (@Khu_Ntshavheni) May 26, 2023
The relationship between South Africa and the US has been strained after the US ambassador Reuben Brigety accused South Africa of selling arms to Russia, a claim that has been denied by South Africa.
Ntshavheni expressed South Africa’s desire for a peaceful and negotiated resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, highlighting the impact it has had on the country’s economy and standard of living.
She also said that South Africa, along with other African nations, is ready to facilitate negotiations and supports efforts to end the war.
“Equally, it is in the interest of South Africa and Africa in general that the ongoing war in Ukraine ends. In the past few months since the outbreak of the war, South Africa has been impacted by the rise of energy prices, food, and inflation and negatively affecting the cost of living in our country and region and continent.
“South Africa will continue to support efforts to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and as a country and a global player, we believe that such a conflict should be ended through peaceful negotiations and engagement.
“South Africa and other African nations are standing ready to facilitate the negotiations given the lessons we learnt during the negotiations that led to the creation of a free and democratic South Africa.
“We are encouraged to know that the Russian Federation is equally committed to finding a peaceful resolution of the conflict and restoring an environment of peace with her neighbours,” Ntshavheni said.
According to News24, on Thursday, Ramaphosa said South Africa was being punished for its non-aligned stance on the conflict.
“We are now also witnessing Africa being dragged into conflicts far beyond our borders. Some countries, including our own, are being threatened with penalties for pursuing an independent foreign policy and for adopting a position of non-alignment.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
