Ramaphosa Says South Africa Probing US Allegation That it Supplied Arms to Russia
- Weapons were allegedly collected by a Russian cargo ship
- Pretoria’s stance on Ukraine war has angered America
Cyril Ramaphosa
Photographer: Waldo Swiegers/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa instituted an inquiry into allegations that the country supplied weapons and ammunition to Russia, despite Pretoria having taken a neutral stance on its invasion of Ukraine.
Ramaphosa announced the probe on Thursday, hours after US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety alleged that the armaments were collected by a Russian ship that docked at the Simon’s Town naval base in Cape Town in December. While US intelligence had agreed to provide evidence of the shipment, none has been provided so far, the South African presidency said in a statement.