JOHANNESBURG: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday clarified comments he had made during the BRICS summit in Kazan earlier in the week, insisting that he was not favouring Russia over Ukraine and values diplomatic engagement with both countries.
Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement, “In declaring President Putin and the people of Russia as ‘valuable friends and allies’, President Ramaphosa was not projecting any particular country or block of countries as the enemy.”
Ramaphosa’s office stated that by calling Russia a “valuable friend and ally,” he was not positioning any other nation as an adversary. The statement further affirmed South Africa’s commitment to a “policy of non-alignment,” which has allowed the country to engage “constructively” with both Russia and Ukraine.
The clarification followed backlash within South Africa’s government, where the Democratic Alliance (DA), an opposition party that now shares power in a coalition, openly criticized Ramaphosa’s description of Russia as an ally. The DA asserted that it does not consider Russia or President Vladimir Putin an ally, citing concerns over Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
In an effort to reinforce South Africa’s neutral stance, Ramaphosa’s office highlighted the nation’s strong historical ties with Russia dating back to the anti-apartheid struggle, while also acknowledging “cordial diplomatic bilateral relations with Ukraine.”
South Africa’s neutrality will also be underscored on Monday as Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola prepares to host Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga. Their meeting will reportedly address visa waivers for South African officials traveling to Ukraine, facilitating their participation in ongoing peace discussions without logistical delays.
Despite South Africa’s stance of non-alignment, it has faced criticism for perceived favoritism toward Moscow. Many attribute South Africa’s close ties with Russia to the Kremlin’s support for the African National Congress (ANC) during the apartheid era.
