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SHIPPING LANES

Lady R’s cargo was an ‘old order’ for ammunition, Modise says, but remains tight-lipped on details

Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise has broken her silence on the Russian cargo vessel Lady R which docked in Simon’s Town Navy Base earlier this month.
Lady R’s cargo was an ‘old order’ for ammunition, Modise says, but remains tight-lipped on details Russian cargo ship Lady R leaves Simon's Town harbour. (Photo: Supplied)
Victoria O’Regan
By Victoria O’Regan
22 Dec 2022
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The cargo offloaded by Russian ship Lady R was an “an old, outstanding order for ammunition used by the Special Forces”.

This was according to Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise who was briefing the media on the progress relating to benefits for military veterans, on Thursday morning. During the briefing she was asked to respond to questions about Lady R. 

Until now the minister has kept mum on the ship’s arrival and dawn departure, and there has been no official explanation from the Department of Defence (DoD), the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), nor the navy for the arrival of the ship. This is despite a number of calls from politicians and repeated media requests. 

Read in Daily Maverick: “State Defence, SANDF silent in face of speculation Lady R was shipping Russian weaponry” 

Addressing the media on Thursday, Modise refused to respond to detailed questions about Lady R, saying she didn’t want to comment on the contents of the vessel because she “will be guessing” until she receives all the paperwork. 

“I am waiting for the paperwork; I’m waiting for the people who know,” she said. 

Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Thandi Modise. (Photo: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS)
Defence Minister Thandi Modise briefs the media on progress made relating to benefits for military veterans on Thursday. (Photo: Jairus Mmutle / GCIS)

However, the minister did confirm that Lady R’s cargo was an old order which had been made before the pandemic. DA defence spokesperson Kobus Marais previously told Daily Maverick that the information he had received was that the unloaded cargo was “an old, outstanding order for ammunition used by the Special Forces”. 

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Modise said: “We do know, however, that whatever contents this vessel was getting, were ordered long before Covid started, and therefore the reason you are interested and America is interested in that vessel, coming into our shores, is actually because America threatens the rest of Africa – not just South Africa – of having anything that is even smelling of Russia.

“As far as they’re concerned, we must consume all the Russian vodka quickly and if it is depleted you will be found wanting for drinking the Russian vodka,” said the minister. 

Read in Daily Maverick: “Cloak and dagger – the infamous nights Simon’s Town became Vladimir Putin’s town”

The minister did not go into detail about the nature of the ship’s cargo.

Modise said Lady R was a matter on which members of the department needed to “apply [their] heads” and not rush into giving responses. DM

Comments

Riette Fern Dec 23, 2022, 12:08 PM

Please help me here, was this "old outstanding order for ammunition" offloaded or loaded onto the Lady R? One would have thought that Putin would hardly be honouring "old" agreements to supply arms/ammunition to "Africa" at a time when Russia itself is running low on supplies for their war in and against Ukraine! This does not compute, something smells rotten...

Dhasagan Pillay Dec 24, 2022, 12:06 PM

That's what we should all be excited to find out. I for one eagerly await the minister's paperwork waving response follow-up. Then we can castigate correctly. Cos right now the timing and the secrecy smells funny. Of course, if we bought it and had to wait this long for delivery, the Ruskies deserve a one star rating.

Old Man Dec 23, 2022, 12:42 PM

An old order for ammunition pre covid just being collected now is in the same realm of belief as the Sudanese businessman coming to collect his buffaloes. Pull the other leg.

street36 Dec 23, 2022, 01:43 PM

Minister states that cargo was an old order of ammo. She does does disclose what, if anything, was loaded. If this is correct then why would Russia, who by all accounts is running out of ammo, even contemplate filling the order - old as it may be. Smelly submission from the Minister.

Des Clark Dec 23, 2022, 06:22 PM

Is there an honest honorable member of the ANC alive in South Africa today?

Geoff Woodruff Dec 24, 2022, 07:00 AM

Not "rush into giving responses" You mean consider your lies carefully before you tell them. The ANC think that we're brain dead.

Carsten Rasch Dec 24, 2022, 10:45 AM

Liar liar mouth on fire. These ministers have no respect for the people of this country. Such a bullshit story. Russia is using 30 year old ammunition, and begging for stock from their allies. That ship picked up ammunition. Or perhaps enriched uranium for Iran in some underhanded deal. Whatever it was is not supposed to be public, which is why it was done at night, when satellite cameras couldn’t pick up details. We are kneedeep in Russian cloak-and-dagger clandestine deals. But why does this foolish individual even mentions the US in her so-called press statement is beyond me.

Rob vZ Dec 24, 2022, 01:22 PM

Our government’s eager military engagements with Russia are terrifying. Read the recent NY Times article on the recent Russian “re-colonisation” of CAR. The ANC really is a terrible judge of character. Get over your Cold War hang ups and open your eyes. Russia is controlled by a violent and brutal regime that sees Africa as nothing more than place to be exploited under the barrel of a gun.

Ray Greyvenstein Dec 24, 2022, 02:46 PM

Another case of bullshit NOT baffling brains.

Hulme Scholes Dec 25, 2022, 11:08 AM

When will we be free from these morons? How can anybody in their right mind put a clown like that in charge of the defence of this country? God help us.

roelf.pretorius Dec 28, 2022, 01:36 AM

I have difficulty in believing that Russia is the place to get our ammunition from. What about Denel? Why not giving them some work so that they can at last start paying their workers? Something drastically is wrong with the priorities of the Defense ministry.