Deep divisions over Pretoria's Russia stance
Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has slammed opposition parties who criticised the government for abstaining during the recent UN vote criticising Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
This is after John Steenhuisen, the leader of the official opposition Democratic Alliance, on Tuesday accused the government of hiding behind the veneer of neutrality to give tacit support to President Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
He flagged Russia’s expansion into Africa through “elite capture”. “Fifteen African nations are currently involved in Russian-financed nuclear power deals, and many more are locked into Russian security contracts. Connect these dots and the full picture of the ANC’s support for Russia begins to emerge,” he said.
Steenhuisen said the ANC, which once relied on global solidarity in the struggle to end apartheid, had now sided with the oppressor. “Every world leader with a moral conscience has condemned it and called on Russia to withdraw, but not South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa,” he added.
MPs from some parties, including the Freedom Front Plus, also slammed Pretoria for not condemning the attack. However, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP, Floyd Shivambu, said there was nothing wrong with Putin acting to stop the expansion of the “neo-colonial” NATO.
ANC MP Lindiwe Zulu said her government will never forget Russia’s role in fighting against the apartheid regime.
She said both countries – Ukraine and Russia – should be brought to the negotiation table and be able to find an amicable solution.
“Negotiations needed us to compromise and we did, to bring us the South Africa we have today…we called upon the parties to engage in peaceful negotiations. President Cyril Ramaphosa will speak to the president of Ukraine when he avails himself to speak. I can assure you that the president will speak to both sides,” she said.
President Ramaphosa came under fire for only calling Putin late last week.
-0- PANA CU/MA 16March2022
