No proof of arms shipment to Russia, says South African government

The South African government says the outcome of an independent fact-finding team shows that the country has sold no weapons to Russia to prosecute the war in Ukraine as alleged by the US ambassador. The claims called into question the country’s declared neutrality in the conflict with Ukraine…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that an independent investigation found no proof that South Africa sold weapons to Russia.

The panel dismissed charges made by the United States ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, that a Russian ship was loaded with munitions and weapons in Cape Town last December.

The claims called into question the country’s declared neutrality in the conflict with Ukraine.

The South African president noted that the unfounded allegation had harmed the country’s currency and reputation.

“The panel found that there was no evidence to support the claim that the ship transported weapons from South Africa destined for Russia,” the president said in a televised address to the nation on Sunday.

“No permit was issued for the export of arms and no arms were exported.”

The fact-finding team found instead that the Russian cargo ship had delivered a consignment of weapons from Russia to South Africa, ordered in 2018.

Ambassador Reuben Brigety later apologised over the false allegations that almost affected the ties between South Africa and the United States.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, South Africa has pushed to preserve amicable relations with Russia, prompting condemnation from the United States and other Western nations.
The South African government has not publicly condemned Russia over the invasion while abstaining from a number of UN votes on the conflict.