COMRADES IN ARMS
Pro-Russia hawks in ANC likely to push back against US after ambassador’s outburst
The ANC is likely to come out swinging, with the pro-Russian faction using US ambassador Reuben Brigety’s outburst against South Africa as leverage against détente with the US.
The ANC is expected to take a hardline stance against the US ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety’s claim that SA supplied arms to Russia in a clandestine operation at Simon’s Town last December.
The President will appoint a judicial commission of inquiry into the allegations — first raised by the US last year.
A South African team went to plead the country’s case in Washington last week, and US intelligence promised to relay evidence of the arms sales to South Africa. Still, according to officials who cannot be quoted, it had yet to do so by the time of Brigety’s bombshell.
Headed by security adviser Sydney Mufamadi, the team thought they had restored the “special relationship” South Africa enjoys with the US. They agreed that the naval drills South Africa held in February with Russia on the first anniversary of the start of the Russian war on Ukraine had been ill-timed.
South Africa’s team raised the Lady R allegations at meetings at the Pentagon, the White House and the National Security Council to clear the air. US intelligence agencies said they would provide evidence, and the South African team promised an inquiry into the allegations.
They thought they had it in hand.
But Brigety’s revelations have set the cat among the pigeons, with Ramaphosa on the backfoot with his party, the ANC.
The ANC has advocated for a much tougher stance against the US and for the country to be more forthright in its support of Russia. Now the ANC is likely to come out swinging, with the pro-Russian faction using Brigety’s outburst as leverage against détente with the US. The ANC wants closer relations with Russia and is expected to push the line that South Africa has not imposed sanctions on Russia so it can trade arms with the country.
Peter Fabricius reported that a US-sanctioned Russian jet also landed at Waterkloof in April. The US ambassador may have been pushed to make a public revelation by this.
The landing of a sanctioned Russian plane at Waterkloof undermines Mufamadi’s US mission
A senior ANC official told Daily Maverick there is a “distinctive difference” between the party and the state about the war in Ukraine. The party’s resolutions from its December 2022 conference display a much more hawkish stance against the US than Ramaphosa has taken.
The Wolfowitz Doctrine
A resolution on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine says: “This can no longer be described simply as a Russia-Ukraine War — it is primarily a conflict between the US and US-led Nato and Russia,” quoting what it calls the “Wolfowitz Doctrine”.
“According to this doctrine, the US should not allow any country in the world to have the possibility, in the post-Cold War period, to challenge US interests, especially its hegemony. In this regard, US geopolitical strategy has identified Russia and China as the two powers that must be contained…
“This is why the US provoked the war with Russia over Ukraine…”. The ANC resolution goes on in this vein. The ANC’s deputy secretary-general, Nomvula Mokonyane, said the party would put out a statement on Friday, 12 May.
South Africa has a long-standing political relationship with the US. The Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (Agoa) provides duty-free access for 1,800 products from certain African countries to the vast US market. Republican Party representatives want Washington to use Agoa benefits as leverage against South Africa’s stance on the Ukraine war
Also importantly, the US funds the Aids antiretroviral drug programme through its Pepfar programme. It is the US’s most extensive communicable disease-fighting programme yet and is essential to hundreds of thousands of South Africans living with HIV and Aids.
Queenin Masuabi reports that EFF leader Julius Malema, with whom the ANC is likely to enter a formal alliance in 2024, criticised the US stance.
“I think America’s concerns are misplaced. The current government has no capacity to empower Russia with weapons. We have a long-standing relationship with Russia. We will not be dictated to by the US in terms of who becomes our friend. There is no such capacity to supply Russia with weapons; if anything, it is the other way around.” DM
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I must say I am surprised by Julius liberal stance. I thought he will come out swinging for his ideological friends. It seems like he understands the importance economic friends. If US and EU pull out any economic support, no amount of BRICS alignment will compensate for that.
Malema’s statements support the ANC stance, no surprise thrre?
Intellectual engagement with the ANC goes something like this:
The person says: Good point, constructive suggestion, offer of skills, warning of pitfalls, etc.
The ANC hears: blah blah blah blah blah – ha ha white – ha ha I’ll show who’s boss here – blah blah – ha ha no-one is cleverer than me – blah blah – western capitalist – blah blah – I love being rich – blah blah blah – I wonder what’s on TV? – blah blah ZZZ.
You forgot blah blah blah KFC
Typical anc. Treacherous, disgraceful, treasonous, unscrupulous and self-serving (besides being a thieving, corrupt and criminal syndicate) at the expense of the nation and devoid of any morals, credibility and common decency. Like their master, the odious mass-murdering and evil Putin monster – masters of lies, distortions, misinformation and propaganda. You have to be a very special kind of the most stupid to behave the way they do, taking this country to the gutter, against all reason and common sense in support of a deranged and wicked psychopath. This putrid party has become nothing but a curse on this wonderful country of ours and we need to send them to hell where they belong. Our welfare as a nation is in great peril.
I absolutely agree with your explicit observations of the ANC. How is it possible that anybody in this effed-over country still supports them? Beggars belief.
Well said and I agree with you 100%
I could not agree more!!!
Mr. De Alessi. I fear you’re holding back. Not once did you say ‘moronic’. Aside from this teeny criticism, I think you’ve mostly nailed it. Well disgorged!
And, yet another wrong turn!!
As usual, the ANC foreign policy seems to be a mixture of naivety, stupidity and malice. It is like a 3 year old hell bent on destroying a toy, because the toy belongs to him. How long will the voting public allow this to continue?? Unfortunately, I think we know the answer to that….
I have just received a note from the investment company my pension fund is with, telling me not to panic in the wake of this news. The seriousness of this diplomatic debacle (like a two-step with three left-footed dancers) is suddenly very concerning.
The US provoked Russia to invade Ukraine. What an absurd thing to believe! The ANC has descended into madness.
Without agreeing with the ANC’s stance on this, the US and Nato are not innocent, let’s not be naive about this. If you want to deepen your knowledge of this war and what led to it you just need to do a quick search on Youtube for Noam Chomsky’s interviews on the matter, with well researched, inteligent and well informed views on american international policy. You can also read his book, “Manufacturing Consent”.
I wish the Daily Maverick would publish a non biased and well researched article explaining the events of the last 30 odd years that have led us to this terrible situation, so that people can be better informed and not just fall for the prevailing narratives.
Uno:
The fact remains that Ukraine voted 90% in a 90% turnout referendum NOT to be part of Russia. If there are ethnic Russians that long for putin they are free to move back to where they came from.
A second fact is that putin extended the CSTO right up to the border of Poland long before Ukraine even being on the radar to join Nato. So the Nato expansion justification is outright nonsense. I love that Finland has subsequently joined Nato. So putin has now managed to more than double his border with Nato (and exposed his conventional military as inept and outdated). Also expect South Korea, Singapore and Japan to join Nato.
Invading Ukraine was a massive strategic blunder.
Indeed. But try to persuade hardcore communists that their fairy tale crashed decades ago is not easy.
Johan:
I’m not defending Russia’s or Putin’s actions nor am I questioning their right to sovereignty, but I am tired of reading one sided and biased articles and comments where there is a clear line separating the “good guys” from the “bad guys”. As africans, we should be much more clued up than that after so many bloody proxy wars being fought under very dubious pretenses. The ukrainian people are victims of another bloody proxy war between two superpowers. I stand with them for that reason and because they were invaded, but if we have to point a finger at Russia, we also have to point a finger to the US and their allies.
I agree with you: another proxy war.
Mr. Pereira:
This is a case of ‘whataboutism’. Your point is taken. Big Power geopolitics is always at ugly play.(And let’s be clear: aside from nuclear weapons, Russia is no Big Power.) In the case of Ukraine, whether or not they are a pawn in the game, matters not a whit. A democratic country (Zelenskyy elected by 73% of the vote) has been invaded by a country of Guptas. In their response, whatever the ultimate motivations, the Western Powers are on the side of angels. This instance has clear Good Guys and crystal clear Bad Guys. Anything else is folderol. (Pray tell, in this situation, how the finger gets pointed at ‘the US and their allies.)
Why on earth would Nato want to provoke a war with Russia? Nato is a defensive organisation. It has enlarged because Eastern European democratic nations have sought membership of Nato because they feel threatened by the aggressive dreams of Putin who has a misguided understanding of post-Cold War history. Russia has no legal right to invade Ukraine and must be physically opposed. It is a battle between autocracy and democracy which affects the whole world.
As a postscript, SA has the right to choose its friends but so does the USA.
It’s a military alliance that attacked Iraq and killed many civilians. And Afghanistan.
The attack on Iraq – notwithstanding the hellish reign of Saddam – was an abomination and millions of Americans were outraged and horrified. Afghanistan is a different matter. They – the Taliban – first allowed Bin Laden to set up a base which attacked the US homeland, then refused to deliver the suspects and protected them. They were given ample opportunity to do the right thing. (Also, as a sidenote, do you see any difference in the governments of the countries we are talking about? Any?)
Some of us can actually think and research for ourselves without resorting to Chomsky as the great oracle and purveyor of truth.
Please do share your research and facts. I’m always open to healthy discussion and constructive criticism but u unfortunately your response doesn’t provide either of those.
Uno, NATO has been on Russia’s doorstep for decades – the Baltics in the 90s and Turkey since 1952 (they share a common sea), without USSR/Russia invading anybody out of fear for its own future. Putin also has form for invading neighbours – Georgia in 2008, and annexing parts of Ukraine in 2014. He’s also slaughtered thousands of Russians in Chechnya and other restive provinces to maintain Russia as it is. Let’s face it: the Soviet Union was not a union of equals – it was Imperial Russia with 14 vassal states who couldn’t wait to get the hell out from under the Russian boot as soon as the whole Soviet experiment collapsed in a heap. Putin’s only achievement, other than slaughtering thousands of people on both sides of the conflict, destroying a functional country and causing the prices of basic food and energy products to soar globally (affecting the poor the most), is to ensure that Finland, Sweden and probably Ukraine and Moldova will join NATO. Great strategy – and what does Chomsky have to say about Putin’s war of aggression pushing millions of Africans back into poverty? Pointedly, what does the ANC have to say? Nothing? Thought not; ordinary folk are not their concern. Ever.
No! The anc is the absolute epitome of madness and stupidity. Imbeciles – every single one of them, and those who keep voting for them.
Does the ANC reflect government policy? Of course, but the dialectic needs to reflect reality! The West provides more financial, social and economic support to the country than both Russia and China combined. The ANC cannot afford to surrender this aid, but practicality is always trumped by philosophy in this government because the fat cats will survive anyway.
What will happen to AIDS patients without support from th US? We are likely to find out before 2024!
I think it’s ideology not philosophy – much more dangerous.
The point you miss is that China Russia supplies economic aid to anc and cadres directly, to ply this type of BS.
It has nothing to do with South Africa
We can only consume popcorn in huge quantities while this unfolds……….
Raw popcorn?
which will pop! as I think most of us are over heated by what is happening to this once amazing country
Hysterical! 🙂
And apply that word to the full spectrum, from nauseating disgust at it all to ‘if I don’t laugh, I’d weep’.
It makes me sick thinking about how the ANC is prepared to sacrifice all the jobs and trade on the altar of a failed 70’s era ideological alignment with Russia. Once Agoa is gone, it won’t come back
They are well and truly out of the closet now.
Is there even one single minister in this government who gives a damn about the lives of ordinary Saffers?
No – the evidence suggests this! The problem is the un-educated voters who keep giving them power at the polls
Exactly…… these schmucks have so much work to do at home, but they get involved in matters outside and further push us over the cliff. They are most definitely NOT acting in the interests of the citizens that voted for them. The rotten cANCer should be rooted out, along with all other like minded idiots. They are filling their coffers, and will then feed this nation to the hiënas. The voters need to wake up big-time….
Or who can do their job? Another no.
The ANC are straight shooters. Straight into the foot!
Now the ANC will shoot itself in the foot before changing which foot is in its mouth
So true. Every day now their aim seems deliberate and unerringly accurate. Just a pity about the inevitable ricochet that hits the rest of us.
Blinded by ideology and oblivious or ignorant of the risks and consequences. The SACP pulls the strings and yet no one voted for them.
Bismarck – the greatest diplomat of the nineteenth century – said “Countries do not have friends, they have INTERESTS”. If that is true, then what are the vital interests of South Africa? The upliftment of the poor by generating the greatest number of jobs. That can only be done by facilitating an environment of business development, above all, mining. Is this happening? No. The Dept of Mineral Resources has acted as the biggest impediment to mining investment. Where would the investment in new business be most likely to come from? Surely from advanced capitalist countries like America, Europe and China which have large savings-surpluses available for foreign investment. Therefore, the vital interests of South Africa should be to be close to those places. But, here we have the classic African schizophrenia: the interests of the country are NOT the interests of the governing party. The ANC is anti-Capitalist, anti-White and anti-Western. The interests of the ANC are nostalgic; the Soviet Union. The ANC is a true Leninist party. That means that CONTROL of the commanding heights of the economy is infinitely more important than GROWTH. It does not matter to the ANC how small the mining sector is, as long as it can control it. A full-blown Marxist-Leninist, Gwede Mantashe, sometime head of the Communist Party, is the minister of Mining. They call each other “Comrades”. And then you wonder why there is no growth in the economy? It’s simple, they are all heavy-duty Communists.
Very well said.
Agreed.
Stalinist communists- the most dangerous kind.
No mention of the fact that Putin and one of his oligarchs are funding the ANC?
The cadres are Putin’s 100% owned lap dogs.
‘United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK) is set to become an unbridled cash cow for the ANC, especially its funding front Chancellor House. UMK’s riches and its Russian connections potentially create a strong motive for the party’s equivocation on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.’
Quoted from DailyMaverick
Exactly – I don’t think this article received enough visibility.
Not only is the ANC in Russia’s pocket, but RADICAL Economic Transformation is a misunderstanding of Atlas Shrugged, where the intent was to destroy the economy – in terms of SA: Destroy the Rand, Incomes, Exports, property rights, institutions etc – once no-one has anything of value left then we can all be socialist, sit around a campfire and cook popcorn while SA burns.
Sadly we don’t have a single statesman in South Africa who will stand up and be counted. The political naivity of the ANC is a mortal danger to our country’s survival and today we are teetering on the brink of international pariah status. Until we have a president with a backbone and a cabinet with decent morals we will continue with our nosedive into obscurity. To bite the hand that feeds you the way we (our esteemed government that is) have behaved towards America is lunacy of the highest level and if they do decide to punish us with sanctions our fate will be sealed. To contemplate a coalition government of an ANC /EFF alliance next year is truly worrying and any foreign investors will run for the hills. Please DA try to get your house in order otherwise we are all doomed.
The Associated National Corruption party at its finest. The clowns are running the circus and the Ringmaster is clueless.
This news story may not intend to be either hawkish or doveish but there is a clear touch of the hawk in it. I doubt the ambassador would have done what he did without getting any clearance from Washington. If anything our government may have misread the signals in Washington. They may have been a bit more nuanced than one would believe reading the piece. For what it’s worth I think our government has overplayed its hand even accepting that they may be entitled to treat neutrality towards Russia how they want. Just as a matter of interest how many jobs would be at stake if AGOA were to exclude us. One shudders to think.
Ramaphosa is the Commander-in-Chief and he needs a commission of inquiry to establish whether weapons were supplied or not. He is so fast asleep that he could step down and it would make no difference.
I guess it is too much to hope for that anyone in the ANC has the capacity to think beyond their misguided pro-Russia stance. The antipathy to anything western is bizarre at best. What in God’s name do they expect in terms of benefit or reward. And Nato aside, the simple fact is that Russia is the aggressor and a pretty vile one at that.
Denel Rheinmetall, a joint SA and German state owned company have the last year regularly supplied and exported weapons and ammunition to Nato. These weapons are then given by Nato to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Why are the US and its assets in the South African media not complaining about this?
I suppose these transactions, if it ever happened, were approved by the National Conventional Arms Control Committee? Or were they also clandestinely shipped at night onto (transponders switched off) naval vessels and aircraft?
“Why are the US and its assets in the South African media not complaining about this?”
I might be dense, but what is there to complain about? NATO and Ukraine are not sanctioned. Russia is.
The US needs to back up its allegations with action. Prohibit travel to and through the US to every card carrying member of the ANC. Prohibit US businesses from doing business with the ANC or prominent members of the ANC. Freeze US based assets of the ANC and it’s prominent members.
The simple fact is that unless the US deals properly with the treachery of the ANC the ANC will drag South Africa into sanctions that hit the poor.
Great idea!
“The President will appoint a judicial commission of inquiry into the allegations ” = Whitewash.
You cannot make this tuff up – what a fantastic Netflix series this country would make, with these idiot ANC comrades at the helm. Sadly, I will be a member of the cast, unable to watch this train smash from the sidelines.
We are in for a repeat of the Waterkloof Gupta fiasko, the enquiry will find that the supply of equipment to Russia was not officially sanctioned, a minor functionary will be found responsible and “punished” with a diplomatic posting to an ANC ally.
Do the ANC “leaders” and those that vote for them ever read the news?
Can they read?
At the risk of becoming a conspiracy theorist, I’m beginning to wonder if our energy (read Eskom) crisis is not perhaps an ANC plan to keep South Africans from watching the news and world events? Thus keeping them “in the dark”, so to speak.
The ANC must go!
I do think it is unlikely that we supplied Russia with anything substantial – what do we have that they would want – a few rounds of AK47 ammo ?
Maybe the US are forcing ANC hand here. Calling them out. If the ANC are selling arms to Russia. Sanctions, boycotts will follow and the effect on economy will be massive. ANC will lose elections badly and a more Western friendly replacement will be installed. GREAT IDEA !!
Russia is a vast country with endless, frozen wastelands in the far north. It has an economy the size of Spain and a dictatorial, repressive government and outside of Moscow and St Petersburg most people are quite poor. As the world decarbonizes over the next two decades the petrostates will inevitably become poorer, Russia with them. There can be no economic rationale for the ANC’s embrace if Putin.
Anc will ensure we see our rse.
Domestically bereft and internationally naive.
circling the plughole.
endgame.
I seem to recall ideological diehards of a previous regime being reluctant to confront the fascists of 1939.
They just keep on getting caught with their pants down. Sorry lads, you are now playing in an adult ballpak!
South Africa: pariah of the world during the aparthied years because of a morally indefensible policy, then the darling of the world during the Mandela years, is now fast becoming the pariah of the world again due to the support for Russia’s morally indefensible policy. Is this irony or what??
The fact that we had weapons to give anybody is the only surprise here. The only positive is, that if Russia really needs to get weapons from us, they are really in trouble.
Ramaputin is appearing more and more clueless every day. He is not even pretending to be the head of the confederacy if dunces any more. He has become their fall man and dances to their tune. The sad thing is that he was just a puppet from the start. Nothing has changed since he has come into power, it has gotten worse. The Guptas were not extradited because the ANC did not want them to be, there has been no action against the corruption kingpins, because the ANC would not allow it. People are hungry and destitute because the ANC does not care. And still the puppet dances and says and does what he is told to say and do.
He comes from the trade unions where all the fat cats got rich from taking from the poor blue collar workers. He was a negotiator, not a man who would stand and fall by his principals because he has none.
What were we thinking when he, after being the vice puppet-president learning from the dirty old man, Zuma, for all that time – that he would not too be a dirty old man?
No he is not at the helm. There is no rudder. This country has been fed to the wolves and is now finally being torn to shreds.
What could be expected of a party who sent children into the streets to fight and die for their rights?
Where were the big guns then?
Already counting money in Lusaka?
Shockingly accurate take on it all
This blurring of the lines that separate party and State needs to be settled.
Cyril Ramaphosa is either the President of South Africa, or his the head of the ANC whose interests are increasingly diametrically opposed to both clean government, good Governance and the interests of the country, South Africa.
Get off the fence and lead, Mr President.
What South Africa (or, rather the ANC Government) say or do is, on the World stage, completely irrelevant. We are a small, weak, politically corrupt nation. The US doesn’t need us strategically and the minerals we mine can be sourced by the US elsewhere. George W Bush said something along the lines of if you are not with us, you are against us (i.e. no such thing as a neutral position). The ANC lives in a fool’s paradise.
South Africans in their hundreds, actually thousands, maybe millions, will starve if the USA pulls the plug on AGOA. What do desperate starving people do? They loot, they riot. So Cyril Ramaphosa, solely in the interests of the ANC, not us the people of SA, will almost singlehandedly destroy the glorious country we love. Shame on you Ramaphosa. And, where is Business? because your businesses will be destroyed.
Maybe reporters should go ask the opinion of NUMSA & AMCU given that these actions put upto 50% of their members’ jobs on the line if the USA decide to remove SA from AGOA. There are many African countries that would gladly welcome SA automakers to relocate to their countries and mining exports will be heavily affected as well (incl Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Morocco…)
And the EU may also follow if the USA can convince them that SA is supplying their greatest threat with weapons.
Interesting – I read through the comments and “hear” the anger and frustration all aimed at the ANC. It is a shame that we do not have any opposition parties in this land. Yet again is a golden opportunity to state your case Mr Opposition (if you are out there), or is it the usual mud slinging without revealing your own, considered view on this situation?
“- – I is a shame that we do not have any opposition parties in this land ” – – Mr Veitch, have you ever heard of the Democratic Alliance? For your information, it is the official opposition in the SA parliament. If you can find the time and inclination, you would do yourself a favour by reading the latest DA email sent out by John Steenhuisen, the DA Leader, entitled:
“The Great Betrayal: Why President Ramaphosa lied about providing weapons to Russia.”
You could even do more, by actually finding out more about the principles and platform o the DA – and even becoming a supporter/member!
What we need is a USA delegation to head up a commission of enquiry, that way we will get the truth. We cannot believe a word that this government or our spineless president has to say!! They are a disgrace & an embarrassment
What perplexes me most about the ANC is it’s complete inability to think in anything other than zero-sum terms. There is a complete lack of ability and skill in our foreign policy, just luddite, sloth-like determination to be ‘anti-Western’. It is not simply puerile, in this modern age and it is not smart or brave: it is at odds with every tenet of skilled diplomacy.
Sure, you want to stick with the buddies who supported you during apartheid (who included Ukraine, obviously, as part of the USSR), and yes you want to be part of a grand new world order, where the USA isn’t the only game in town. That’s fine. But to risk billions of Rands in potential exports to the USA if it withdraws AGOA preferences is dumb, it’s arrogant and it smacks of the lack of care that the ANC has for ordinary South Africans. At a time when our economy is hemorrhaging jobs, taxes and everything else, you gamble on access to the world’s largest market? Pathetic.
Other countries have abstained from condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine without actually supporting Russia openly. Ditto the increasingly difficult line between China and the USA – Zambia for one has made it clear that it won’t choose sides and welcomes investment from both and relations with both. India is a member of several security organisations, some with China, others explicitly to oppose China. How? They have sophisticated diplomats who put the interests of their coutries first – not just batsh!t ideologues tilting at windmills.
If you recall Naledi Pandor’s initial response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year, she was outraged. She is one of the very few intelligent, educated and honest members of the ANC’s top echelon. Unfortunately, it appears that she was severely slapped down, and is now towing the ANC’s ideological line.
We see the results of this in the current inept foreign policy, as you correctly say.
I’m sorry but I can no longer contain my contempt for the imbeciles in the ANC. To attempt to blame the US for the war in Ukraine merely proves what so many of us have suspected, that the ANC and it’s pro-Russia hawks are a bunch of morons who wouldn’t know anything about appropriate foreign policy if it came knocking. Did the ANC corner the market on stupidity for the last 2 years ? So it seems.
Basically, Ukraine vs Russia travesty is an embodiment of Capitalism vs. Communism. Thought this war was over when the Berlin wall collapsed! Is Putin trying to breathe life into Communistic cadavers?
The ANC is as clueless on foreign policy as it is on electricity/energy. And the lights are going out – say no more! The consolation I can offer to the American ambassador (and to Ukraine) has already (ironically perhaps) been stated by Julius Malema. We can’t even produce electricity let alone arms!
Push back against the US ?? Get tough with the US ?? Delusions of grandeur methinks. Just the same incoherent stream of invective directed against the US ambassador as against de Ruyter. Utterly and completely devoid of reason or principle.
The strategic interests of the USA in SA’s coastline, mineral wealth, role in geo-politics and in the promotion of constitutionalism in Africa far outweigh the concerns about what may have been in a few shipping containers loaded onto the Lady R last December in full view of anyone in Simonstown, including the CIA.
At the same time, the US recognises the “Lady R incident” as a signifier of Russia and China’s strategic interests in South Africa’s location between the Southern Indian and Atlantic Oceans, its proximity to Antarctica, its “coastline, mineral wealth, role in geo-politics”, maritime resources, infrastructure, deep sea ports and potential naval bases. Will the ANC sell off the country to the highest bidder?
With this the latest blunder by the ANC, following on all their corruption, the opposition parties should call for an early general election so the ANC can be voted out sooner than next year. South Africa cannot withstand the rapidly downward slippery slope this incompetent government has set us on. All South Africans will suffer if nothing is done urgently. Business should also start putting pressure on the Government
First, let me say that the opening of “comments” again to others not able to afford “insider” status, as this humble retiree is a case is a welcome surprise.
On top of the energy, employment et al crises our country faces, do we really want to go down this road. Do we really want to be the new Venezuela, Cuba or even Myanmar just because we have a particular “revolutionary” predilection? If the US pulls ALGOA and their European allies no doubt will follow suit, unfortunately our people may become the next population to either eat grass or emigrate.
As much as I hate US hegemony, please lets do whats right for our people and in this case put basic rights to the forefront, because when it comes down to it, Russia invaded an internationally recognized sovereign country without direct provocation and is with every step it takes into Ukrainian territory is in fact a “war crime” under the UN prescripts. The same, sane, prescripts that declared apartheid a crime! What are we SA, and what have we become…
Re “The ANC is likely to come out swinging, with the pro-Russian faction using US ambassador Reuben Brigety’s outburst against South Africa as leverage against détente with the US.”
There should be more outbursts, not worry about how the other side may react. We have been so conditioned by the “innocent until found guilty” syndrome that obvious and gut feel no longer have a place. Therefore US ambassador Reuben Brigety’s “outburst” is called an outburst, which description mitigates it, while it is actually a statement of truth that will never see the light of day under cover of our protectionistic constitution.
By accident, Julius seems to be right this time. It is so that SA does not have the capacity to provide anybody with weapons at the moment – probably not even ourselves. And in December Daily Maverick actually reported that weapons were OFF-LOADED from the Lady R, which is in line with what I understand as the current situation, namely that Russia actually provides US with weapons. I also vaguely remember an article saying that the package contained armaments that Russia actually owed us for some time. So the USA ambassador was probably out of line – but on the other side, maybe the USA wants to force SA to get out into the open about where we really stand, so they can decide if they want to support us further, and also to get clarity about whether they can trust us as their gateway to the rest of Africa. I would not take this lightly; I see the US ambassadors’ allegation as an indication that the USA is reviewing its’ stance towards us in total, and if it goes against us, it is going to be devastating to our economy, something we just simply can’t afford. We are already not invited to the G7 meetings any more; Kenya has replaced us if I am not mistaken.