WAR IN EUROPE
ANC Youth League lends credibility to sham Moscow referendums in Ukraine
ANCYL officials are observing — and condoning — the referendums that Moscow is using to justify annexing conquered territories.
Several ANC Youth League officials are acting as international observers of the controversial referendums which Russia is holding to legitimise its annexation of the Ukrainian territory that its military has conquered.
They mostly seem to be members of the task team that the ANC appointed last year to revive the moribund ANC Youth League. They appear to be observing the voting in polling stations in Russia where citizens of the occupied territories are being allowed to vote.
The participation of members of South Africa’s ruling party in observing the referendums is lending official credibility to polls that are widely regarded elsewhere as a sham to justify Moscow’s forcible seizure of four Ukrainian provinces. The ANC Youth League officials are also being quoted by Russian state media as justifying the plebiscites in the oblasts or provinces of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine itself and Western nations have called the referendums “sham elections” designed to provide Moscow with the pretence of legality for incorporating into Russia the four provinces that it has already occupied by force.
‘Self-determination’
The state-owned news agency RIA Novosti on Sunday quoted Khulekani Mondli Skhosana, described as chairperson of the ANC Youth League’s international relations subcommittee, as saying that the residents of the four provinces had a right to hold the referendums.
“People should have the right to self-determination. They have the right to vote. This applies not only to the regions in which we are located, but to the whole world. We support legitimate elections and condemn any attempt to sabotage such democratic processes,” Skhosana was quoted as saying.
“Democracy is, first of all, the right of people to vote, to choose their path, and this should be done for the people and done by the people,” he told reporters in Simferopol, which Russia regards as the capital of the “republic” of Crimea which it annexed by force from Ukraine in 2014.
Stella Mondlane, described as Speaker of the Matlosana (Klerksdorp) municipality, was quoted by the official Russian news agency Tass as calling the referendums “a project of historical scale” and adding that people who for a long time had been deprived of the right to choose, had now received the opportunity to reunite with the country (Russia) which they had always been part of.
She was quoted as comparing what is happening in Ukraine with the development of South Africa.
“We believe that in the struggle for freedom it is impossible to stand aside, it is necessary to really fight. This is what happened in the history of South Africa. We fought for freedom. Our people, our ancestors, such as Nelson Mandela, fought for the liberation of the country, and only thanks to this we have our freedom,” she told Tass.
South Africans ‘back Russian actions’
Mondlane said most of South Africa supports Russia’s actions and believes that it is necessary to “protect its citizens and fight for freedom”. “Of course, in any struggle there are sacrifices, but the freedom that this struggle will bring is worth much more,” she said.
Mondlane also told Tass the referendums were going well. “I see that the organisation is going pretty smoothly. There is a queue but it is advancing, everything is calm. People fill out ballots, vote, make lists. I think that the organisation is at a high level.”
She said she was monitoring voting at several polling stations. She however said she was surprised that the referendums did not have voter lists assigned to a specific territory and instead voters had their passports to show where they were from.
“I think we can then adapt that to ourselves as best practice,” Tass quoted her as saying. Mondlane appeared to be in Rostov in Russia, across the border from Ukraine’s Donetsk province.
Tass also quoted Venus Lorato Blennies, who it said was chairperson of a regional branch of the ANC Youth League, as saying, “About 80% of South Africans support the residents of Donbas, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia in their desire to unite with Russia. My country generally adheres to freedom of expression, the ability to take part in what people want to participate in. Therefore, public opinion is to give the people the right to vote in choosing what they want to get,” she said.
ANC Youth League task team
Skhosana, Mondlane and Blennies are all part of the 35-person task team which suspended ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule appointed in April last year to revive the flagging ANCYL.
Another South African, Tsakani Shiviti, described as being deputy president of the Student Diversity Committee, is quoted from St Petersburg in Russia as saying; “I didn’t see buses here that bring people in crowds.
“I did not see here that people are forced to vote and brought in large groups,” the Peterburgskii Dnevnik quoted him as saying. “ All I saw was the voluntary vote of a large number of people. And we are very pleased with what we saw. This is a democratic approach that we really appreciate.”
Shocked
Dzvinka Kachur, honorary president of the Ukrainian Association of South Africa, was shocked to discover that the ANC Youth League was officially observing the referendums and lending credibility to them.
“It is shocking to read that individuals involved in the ANC youth league are participating in the so-called “referendum” and that anyone who grew up in South Africa can believe that for democracy it does not matter “who is voting”.
“Almost 12 million Ukrainians had to leave their homes because of the Russian invasion. They will not be “voting”. Thousands of people have been tortured and silenced by Russian soldiers and they will not be “voting”. Many choose to hide as the “voting” is happening under the watch of Russian guns.”
Kachur said it was particularly upsetting to hear people like Mondlane and Skosana talking about free elections and freedom when some of the Ukrainian association’s volunteers had been tortured in the occupied parts of Ukraine.
“A few of our volunteers were tortured for their positions and so many people had to leave for their safety. So it’s difficult to read what those people are saying about free elections and freedom, etc. It’s just so upsetting.”
‘Tortured’
Kachur explained that the Ukrainian Association of South Africa and the South African charity Gift of the Givers have been supplying humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
“In the occupied territories of Kherson, we cooperated with one of the young doctors from a local clinic, Nikita. One day the doctor was taken away, kept for a few days and tortured by Russian soldiers.
“When he returned, his back was burned with acid and his teeth knocked out. Another 59-year-old from Kherson was kidnapped by putting a bag on his head, soldiers were shooting the gun next to his head and beat him.
“They threw him out when they thought he was dead, but he was found on the street and recovered. We know many more stories like those; people simply disappear from the streets. Some come back, but others will probably be only found in mass graves like those in Izyum, Bucha and many other cities,” she said, citing cities that Ukraine forces have recaptured from the Russian military.
In both Bucha and Izyum, the Ukrainians discovered bodies of citizens, some of whom appeared to have been deliberately executed and/or tortured.
No response from ANC
Daily Maverick approached the ANC and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation for their reaction to and comment on the participation of the ANC Youth League in the monitoring of the Ukraine referendums. Neither has got back to us.
The residents of the four provinces of Ukraine have five days in which to cast their ballots. Voting started on 23 September and will close on 27 September.
Russia claims that the initiative for the referendums came from the people of the four provinces — supposedly as a way of securing Russian protection against Ukraine. But most observers believe the initiative has come from Moscow itself.
The four provinces all have some Russian-speaking inhabitants, some of whom do support annexation by Russia. But Western governments have said it will be impossible to determine whether a majority of the citizens of each of the four provinces really supports incorporation into Russia, as the referendums’ results are likely to be rigged. In any case, the results would be distorted as many of the inhabitants not sympathetic to Russia have already fled the provinces to avoid falling under Russian control. DM
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Well done ANC, you have managed, even by your own awful standards, to find a new low. Absolutely despicable.
You can be sure that the ANC will be on the wrong side of history every time
Another ANC f-up, and possibly proof that the ANC are receiving funding from Europe’s most hated man.
By their friends shall ye know them!
I am utterly appalled that the ANC has sent an official delegation of observers to the sham referendums being held in four provinces of Ukraine. The repercussions and ripples of this vile act on the part of our government will be felt deeply right here in SA; we too will become the pariahs of the world.
Absolutely appalling. You’re quite correct Barrie, this will be seen as South Africa supporting this travesty. Much of the rest of the world does not have the nuanced view of the ANC that we do locally and will not see this for what it is, yet another display of the ANC policy of the ANC first, the well being of the country a very remote second.
The Western Cape government to make their voices known and show that not all South Africans support Russia.
Most South Africans don’t even really know what’s going on with the conflict between the Ukraine and Russia and simply have very little opinion on it, focusing on their own – likely adverse – material conditions. I really don’t trust the statement that 80% of South Africans support this, it feels like the sort of thing a person can comfortably say because they know most of us won’t hear about it.
What do you expect from self serving politicians ?? Honesty and integrity is foreign to the overwhelming majority of that species !
It is impossible for them to lend credibility to anything.
Exactly my thought! They are more in need of something to lend them credibility.. and this is surely an own goal.
This is a new low. How embarrassing.
Too much for words!
Tragic!
Not in my name! This is obviously what the anc want for us…
Hypocritical opportunists on a state sponsored jolly!!
They make our country a laughing stock.
An area of a country at war with large numbers who are anti Russia having fled – now our young rocket scientists declare the referendum free and fair !!
Sadly their shocking ANC led education does. Not allow them to know better.
With ANC officials proclaiming the right to self determination and the right to hold a referendum on where their interests are best served, the ANC will have no problem with residents of the Western Cape or any other region in SA doing the same.
Exactly my thoughts James. Maybe the Cape exit group should press ahead while this is in the news.
Hear hear! Let the Western Cape hold a referendum.
So would the ANCYL back residents of the Western Cape rights to hold a referendum to give that province independence? I don’t think so!
We should give it a try!
Maybe the ANCYL could declare it free and fair? Lol.
They are OBSERVING; Advanced course how to destroy a country
This is entirely unsurprising. Since 1994 while mouthing soothing assurances of commitment to human rights, law and order, integrity in administration and devotion to the cause of uplifling the poorest of the poor, the ANC have practised the opposite .
They have done so because it suits their prejudices or lines their pockets.
The really remarkable thing is that some people on the outside expect something different.
And I thought that the ANC could not sink any lower.
Despicable.
Oh give them a chance to see just how low they can go this is childsplay!
I suppose it would be expecting too much from Cyril to have intervened & not to sanction this junket.
Absolutely mind-numbing, totally clueless, the ANC plumbing new depths of stupidity.
Putin’s their new colonial master.
“ANC Youth League’s international relations subcommittee”. Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho Ho.
Can they come next week end to observs the Western Cape referendum to join Europe.
The ANC (after Mandela) and its youth league are an embarrassment to the people of this country and those who struggled for freedom. Fascists must fall! Viva Rainbow Nation!
Appalling! One day Russian observers will endorse as free and fair an election that is stolen by the ANC. It is only a matter of time.
Unfortunately that is the risk we face that nobody wants to talk about.
When you have to fly in the ANCYL as voting observers, you know you are scraping the barrel.
Totally, but I would say its closer to wiping the muck off your shoe. Even the bottoms of barrels have more integrity than these folks.
What really astounds me is that these youth leaguers dont even realise they are being played as useful idiots by the Russians who laugh behind their smiles as they welcome them to observe this whole farce. Shame, experience is a harsh teacher
Unfortunately the international community thought that these Ace Magashule interns were officially sanctioned SA observers. No wonder we are treated like dangerous teenagers.
Shite, it just keeps on getting worse with these anc/ancyl idiots, but some Stolichnaya vodka is free there from the current dictator, so why the hell not.
F you all and GFY’s…..
The “future leaders” of the ANC are probably there to learn how to steal an election.
What an absolute travesty. Most sane South Africans do not support Russia’s war at all. Neither the sham “elections”.
“Mondlane said most of South Africa supports Russia’s actions? I bet you most South Africans have absolutely no idea what is happening anywhere in the world, never mind a little country like Ukraine. They are too busy worrying about how to survive from day to day.
The ANC couldn’t even manage their own pension fund or pay their staff, but they went to go halfway around the world to monitor sham elections.
I assume that these trips are being paid for by the taxpayer (again)?
The irony here, Craig, is that it isn’t just a little country. It’s one of the biggest bread baskets in the world and it wouldn’t surprise me if Russia wants it to further bribe the world. What better than to hold the world to energy and food rations and prices. It’ll be an food OPEC. But as you imply, the majority of SA’s don’t care, but should, because that’s where a lot of their food comes from. And they should understand a little more of the Ukrainian past with Stalin’s regime. The majority of SA’s should be able to closely identify and be empathetic with that because it happened to them pre-1994 and the repercussions will live with us for many decades to come.
Craig, what makes you think that Ukraine is a ‘little’ country? It is actually a huge country and in many ways, more developed than SA.
Wonder how they claim to have 80% South Africans supporting Russia. Every person I have spoken to or had a conversation with are in the 20% category who do not support. if 80% of this country are happy with high oil prices (cooking and crude), higher inflation and cost of living going up I shudder…
Ask these clowns to also support these scenarios: the Shangaan- speaking from Mpumalanga secede to join Mozambique, the Tswana- speaking from Gauteng and North-West secede to join Botswana, the Sotho-speaking from the Free State secede to join Lesotho, the Swazi-speaking from Limpopo secede to join Eswatini. In Greek we have an apt term for them “mal
aka” (translation available privately).
It seems the ANC is determined to revert South Africa to the pariah nation it was 40 years ago.
What do you expect from a pig but a grunt! Russia supported the struggle so now the ANC must support Russia’s struggle…and struggling they are! Typical of the ANC to support a bunch of losers!
Russia will live to rue the day it started this war – so myopic of our government not to see this but they are blind to all corrupt acts anyway!
ANCYL should be boycotted by the media. Although I agree that a state sponsored visit to occupied territories, please deny the Youth League any free publicity: a referendum on their relevance in S.A. would probably be 98% either disrespect, hate or ignore them.
Your headline is very misleading. These are individuals with no legitimacy with the South African youth and are complete failures who cannot even get the youth to register and vote. They do not have an organisation as they have been a task team for the last 8 years. They are there firstly because they are unemployed and starving and will be paid by the Russian thugs and secondly to get money for ANC salaries before the conference. They represent themselves and their jackets and you ought to have asked them who elected them and where. As appointed battering ram of ANC factions, they have no legitimacy amongst the South African youth but tools of the permanent stooges of Russia. We will not recognise the referendum as a country as we will invite sanctions. You must ask the real reasons for Cyril for not pitching at the UN. It was not electricity crisis in South Africa. He was running away from extreme pressure from the US and the Russians. He was invited not for the things said in the media but the US read him the riot act on Ukraine! If the electricity crisis was the issue, we would have had a Cabinet response. It was all smoke and mirrors so that he does not pitch up at the UN. It is a question of whether he has a spine or not!
You’re completely right that they have no legitimacy here, but the problem as someone said above is that the rest of the world doesn’t know that
The world knows it. They have embassies here and have access to the South African media and they know that they are even struggling to put together their own conferences in provinces, regions and nationally! They were paid for by the oligarchs as ANC has no money to pay salaries. This is known by the world. We are a country with the largest number of foreign missions. You also heard for the first time about these clowns and the ANC will not even own up to them! When you are starving and in need of money and free money is waved in your face, you do anything if you have no principles. They are in Crimea not even in the areas holding the fake referendum because if they die with Ukrainian bullets, somebody will have to account. They are not even observing anything but having a ball in Crimea!
Only 4 days ago Naledi Pandor at the UN, calling for an end to the embargo on Cuba and Zimbabwe while evading any criticism of the brutality of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine nodding her approval at Russian barbarity.
It is something you find from the old liberation struggle and cold war warriors who are living in a time warp. I have an opportunity at Investec and 91 to interact with the modern youth. They are opposed in the majority to Russian aggression and they even do not trust Ramaphosa. The extent of opposition to violence in this country can be seen to the reaction last year. People hate those who turn lives upside down of others through violence. I do spend time analysing youth views and their views about the future. They even say we need a new President. Do not worry about clowns. Real South Africans do not support the hogwash of Naledi Pandor.
I agree with your observations. Also, we must not forget that South Africa was invited to join BRIC(S) for a reason. Neither Russia (under Putin) nor China are shining examples of free democracies. South Africa has/had some moral authority when democracy was voted in after years of apartheid. Not forgetting the mineral wealth in our country.
ANCYL of the new SA spawned clowns like Gigaba, Mbalula and Malema. Mandela must cringe
This has nothing to do with democracy. It is a study of how to create and keep total power.
Would be interesting to see of the rotten ANC would condone a referendum in the Cape Province to declare independence from the RSA failed state?
This indicates the sheer folly of this putrid ANC organization. A few unknown ANC acolytes head off on a freebie and have the audacity to express that the majority of SA citizens support this ludicrous Russian initiative. Can we sink any lower, oh yes! with our crop of geniuses at the wheel anything is possible!
ANCYL, if you are really supportive of Putin, why do you not go and join his troops? He pays well and you are desperate for funding. Your backbone will be tested because the Ukrainians will teach you a lesson or two about integrity. It will be lovely to see how they chase spineless people back.
A very good idea! Tenders for uniforms, made in China of course, will be a further attraction for the cadres. Skinny jeans are de rigeur, certainly in Tembisa, but a sticking point is that uniforms would necessarily be white (winter wear in the Steppes), which would be anathema. But maybe Carl Niehaus as Commander in Chief of the new ANC Youth Brigade to appease the BEE adherents?
I am certainly not one of the South Fricans supporting Russia.
I worked with a large number of Ukrainians for a large number of years. A large number of them were Russian speakers. They were a proud to have RUSSIAN ancestry and very happy to be UKRAINIAN CITIZENS. Poynal?
Sending the hyenas to monitor the wolves.
Every time I think that surely now we have reached the lowest point, I read something that reminds me that we haven’t. The ANC government continues to surprise in their ability to shoot themselves in the foot and sink SA’s international image and credibility. This is so a shockingly stupid and ignorant act.
The ANCYL “is lending credibility”? I’m not sure if this is a possibility with their reputation. In order to lend credibility one has to be credible, no?
You do not speak for me, ANC Youth League. Where did you get this figure of 80% supporting Russia’s invasion of a democratic, independent country? You have become Putin’s unknowing puppets. This is an unpalatable situation.
87.5% of statistics are made up on the spot.
👍🤣🤣🤣🌿
This is absolutely disgusting.
Also: If the ANC believes is self determination then maybe we can hold a referendum in the Western Cape?
The ANC YL have just confirmed their place in the annals of fact-free history. Their only contribution is to further delegitimize Putin’s murderous referenda. I’m tired of being embarrassed by the #VoetsekANC.
Who chose this headline?! The ANCYL have no credibility to lend…
Nothing is more dangerous than the use of liberation language to justify facism. It is a worry that I have, especially with how things have gone in recent history, that our past liberators might be our future oppressors.
My guess is that Russia invited them and paid all costs. The ANCYL are just useful idiots in Russia’s propaganda.
Nothing should surprise about the ANC – just a bunch of skunks (though I doubt the skunks would even have them among their midst). Probably working out how to rig 2024, it is coming believe me!
Hmm, and the organisation can barely afford to pay staff salaries.
I wonder who paid for their travels…?
Doubt whether the ANCYL could lend credibility to anything. They cannot even get themselves together. wonder who paid for this whilst ANC staffers do not get paid!
The headline begs the question: does the ANCYL lend credibility to anything, or automatically deny it any prospects of credibility. Whatever your answer may be, this is still utterly shameful.
Aside from the absolute hypocrisy and denial of facts and reality, A dry-run for the next elections in South Africa?
The ANCYL, while being of no account and barely functioning for years past, continues to produce idiots. They had Malusi Gigaba, Mbalula and Julius and it is therefore no wonder the geriatrics in the ANC cling to office to prevent some of the new crop from getting power. Did the Russian Embassy pay the airfares, 5 star hotel expenses, and daily allowances? The ANC cannot pay salaries, so it is unlikely that they coughed up what must be a considerable cost. Most likely is that the taxpayers of South Africa paid for this disastrously ill-advised jaunt that once again puts our country on the side of the non-democratic world. .
I suppose the Western Cape can have a referendum then to split from the corrupt rest of the colonial entity known as South Africa?
How dare they pretend to be speaking on our behalf? They are not! And another thought, given their support for the democratic rights of people….. “People should have the right to self-determination. They have the right to vote. This applies not only to the regions in which we are located, but to the whole world. We support legitimate elections and condemn any attempt to sabotage such democratic processes,” Skhosana was quoted as saying.”, i wonder what the attitude of the ANC would be if Orania, or Cape Town would hold such a referendun.
Well, now that the ANC supports the Russian occupation of Ukraine, we can be sure of the invasion’s demise, since everything the ANC touches seems to fail eventually. Truly a low point in the ANC’s international presence.
All brings to mind the satirical song by Billy Bragg, Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards which makes fun of some people queueing up to witness the opening of an envelope …. the ease with which fools can be Useful Fools for some unscrupulous “Diktator”or another ….
It may have been Camelot for Jack and Jacqueline
But on the Che Guevara highway filling up with gasoline
Fidel Castro’s brother spies a rich lady who’s crying
Over luxury’s disappointment
So he walks over and he’s trying
To sympathise with her but he thinks that he should warn her
That the Third World is just around the corner.
In the Soviet Union a scientist is blinded
By the resumption of nuclear testing and he is reminded
That Dr Robert Oppenheimer’s optimism fell
At the first hurdle.
In the Cheese Pavilion and the only noise I hear
Is the sound of someone stacking chairs
And mopping up spilt beer
And someone asking questions and basking in the light
Of the fifteen fame-filled minutes of the fanzine writer.
Mixing pop and politics he asks me what the use is
Here comes the future and you can’t run from it
If you’ve got a blacklist I want to be on it.
It’s a mighty long way down rock ‘n roll
From Top of the Pops to drawing the dole.
If no one seems to understand
Start your own revolution and cut out the middleman.
In a perfect world we’d all sing in tune
But this is reality so psycho’s rule.
So join the struggle while you may
The Revolution is just a T-shirt away.
Waiting for the Great Leap Forwards ….
They are not representing South Africa but their party.
If this is true, then Western Cape will be allowed. to have its own referendum to secede from the rest of the country – that will be freedom of choice, democracy, the will of the people.
So the new sand box is in Ukraine. The Youth Leage got new toys from Putin.
The ANCYL is as morally corrupt to the core, same as the ANC.
No matter how much ice-cream you add to a pile of sh_t, you still have a pile of sh_t.
Maybe the youth league cadres should stay in Russia if like so much.
Thank goodness the new crop of wannabees appears to be just as foolishly incompetent and incomprehendo as the current old ***** 😂
Clearly then the ANC will wholeheartedly support independence for the Western Cape then.
I do not understand, how can any person, even a young ANC member, manage to SEE from St Petersburg what happens at a so-called referendum in die eastern provinces of Ukraine? unless it is a Putin propaganda scene on a TV screen he sees!
Hopefully these young ANCYL members settle permanently in what they believe is a “free” and “democratic” Russia
And are drafted into Russia’s “glorious” war
When signing the non-proliferation treaty in Dec 1994, Ukraine had more nuclear weapons than all countries except the USA and Russia. It still has Europe’s biggest (nuclear) power station at Zaporizhia, which Russia is about to annex with propaganda support from the ancyl.
In the Dec 1994 Budapest Memorandum Ukraine agreed to surrender its nuclear weapons to Russia, which (along with the USA and UK) agreed to:
1. Respect Ukraine’s independence and sovereignty in the existing borders.
2. Refrain from the threat or the use of force against the signatory.
3. …..
4. Seek immediate Security Council action to provide assistance to the signatory if they “should become a victim of an act of aggression or an object of a threat of aggression in which nuclear weapons are used”.
5. Refrain from the use of nuclear arms against the signatory.
This was signed by then President Yeltsin in 1994, and re-confirmed by President Putin in 2009.
It is abundantly clear that Russia under Putin has flagrantly violated these international commitments re-confirmed in 2009 by Putin himself
Ace Magashule’s appointments are likely corrupt, illiterate and/or incompetent. Had they troubled to look an Ipsos poll (ipsos war-in-ukraine-april-2022) finds 36% of South Africans answered “yes” to the question: “[My country] should continue its diplomatic ties to Russia”. That said, not many South Africans are prepared to sacrifice much in favor of the people of Ukraine; 29% answered “yes” to “[My country] should ban imports of oil and gas from Russia even if this leads to further price increases.” So business as usual: the ANCY YL lies, ANC proper arrogate the mantel of a Great Democratic Tradition while pursuing narrow ends, and the South African people grub over spoils in the belief that this is where fortune lies. Our soil _is_ hallowed by Mandela’s grave, but it is disturbed ground.
People of Ukraine: for what it is worth, I am sorry. Our government has lost its moral compass, our people are good-hearted but also selfish. South Africa was once the beacon of democracy but now you carry it for us. Keep reminding us of what we stand to lose to kleptocrats, dictators and likewise scum.
Everybody in SA should know by now we are a communist run state from Russia,communism will be the total undoing of SA, Anc well on there way in a hitting that, what a bungling useless bunch of cleptos
I hope they will be as open to self determination when we have a Cape referendum and leave the mess that once was South Africa.
Not clear why the referendum is a sham? “some of whom do support annexation”
Apparently most people in that region speak Russian and identify as Russian and want to be part of Russia. This goes way back. Ukraine should not have tried to retain the region as there has been strife between the two ‘identities’ in Ukraine for over a decade. This is where the ‘right wing’ element of Ukraine comes in.
The ANC are actually on the right side of history with this one.
It would be interesting to see how many of these ANCYL ‘freedom fighters’ are volunteering to join the depleted Russian ‘special operation’ forces, because it would appear that a sizable number of young Russians are not interested in doing so, and are being press ganged into it like 18th century slave hunts. The Russians got their backsides kicked out of Afghanistan by herdsmen on donkeys and the same thing is going to happen in Ukraine, which is a lot better funded. Are well, it reduces unemployment at home.
What a joke. Russia is scraping the bottom of the barrel, if they need the ANC Youth League to “monitor” this useless referendum. ANC (yes, sadly, you too Mr Ramaphosa), you have sold South Africa’s soul (and given away its dream of a better future), to the communist devil. Who is the Wolf in Sheep’s clothing? Do you really think it is still the West?