South African state security minister’s trip to Russia angers opposition

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - South Africa’s main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), condemned the minister in the Presidency responsible for state security Monday for his plans to travel to Moscow this week for an international high-level meeting on security matters.

“The DA strongly believes that any engagement with Russia, particularly in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, should be approached with the utmost caution and consideration for South Africa’s international reputation,” the party’s Shadow Minister of State Security Dianne Kohler Barnard said in a statement.

The South African government said in a statement that State Security Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni will attend the International Meeting of High-level officials responsible for Security Matters from May 23-25 in Russia.

Barnard said that given the recent claims made by US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety regarding the alleged supplying of weapons and ammunition to Russia by South Africa, this visit is yet another diplomatic blunder that could cost the country dearly.

“The timing of this meeting is highly concerning and raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to responsible diplomacy, national security and non-alignment,” the DA said.

The government said the annual meeting in Russia will discuss general trends in the international security situation, including global food security.

Ntshavheni is also expected to engage with relevant authorities in Russia ahead of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s planned visit for a peace mission in both Russia and Ukraine.

Last week, Ramaphosa announced that Russia and Ukraine’s leaders had agreed to meet with African leaders to discuss a possible peace plan for the ongoing conflict.

Leaders from Egypt, Senegal, Zambia, Uganda and the Republic of the Congo have backed the peace plan.

Ramaphosa also said his country’s “non-aligned” position does not favor Russia above other countries and it will not be pressured into abandoning its stance.

This followed a claim by Ambassador Brigety, who told reporters that Washington was convinced that South Africa had supplied arms to the Russian army, despite the country claiming to be neutral.

Brigety claimed that a Russian cargo ship, the Lady R, which docked at the Simon's Town naval base near Cape Town between Dec. 6 and 8 last year had loaded weapons and ammunition as it made its way back to Russia.

The diplomat later apologized to the government and people of South Africa for his comments, according to a statement by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).