By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says there has been extraordinary pressure on South Africa to abandon its non-aligned position and take sides in what is in effect a contest between Russia and the West.
In his weekly newsletter to the public, Ramaphosa maintained that since the advent of democracy nearly 30 years ago, SA has pursued an independent foreign policy and would not be pressured otherwise.
Ramaphosa said that South Africa remains a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, a forum of 120 countries that are not formally aligned with or against a major power bloc.
South Africa has also used its membership of other international forums like the G20 and BRICS groups and the United Nations Charter to advance the views and interests of countries in Africa and the rest of the Global South, he said.
Ramaphosa hailed one of the most impressive features of the international anti-apartheid movement, citing that it drew support from countries and citizens from across continental and ideological divides.
“The struggle to end apartheid was taken up in capitals from Africa to Europe, from the Americas to Asia. Our leaders worked hard to gain the support of governments, lawmakers and citizens across the divisions of the Cold War, “he said.
The experience of reaching out across political divides and building relations with very different countries has helped to shape SA’s foreign policy, he said.This has been coupled with a firm belief in the value of an inclusive multilateral world order and the peaceful resolution of conflict through dialogue.
The president added that South Africa continues to support the UN principle that members should refrain from the threat or use of force against other states’ territorial integrity or political independence.
“The reality is that the Russia-Ukraine conflict – and the tensions that underlie it – will not be resolved through military means. It needs to be resolved politically,” Ramaphosa said.
“We do not accept that our non-aligned position favours Russia above other countries. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries.”
Ramaphosa said that in all of South Africa’s interactions with countries such as the US and the UK, it had restated its belief that the United Nations remains the only viable mechanism through which the global community can strive for peace and common development.
Despite this, the president said that the conflict in Ukraine had highlighted the weakness in the structure and practices of the UN’.
“The composition of the UN Security Council, in particular, does not reflect the realities of the current global landscape. It needs to be overhauled so that there is an equitable representation and a more inclusive mechanism for resolving international disputes,” said the president.
Tensions between the US and South Africa reached a fever high on May 11 when the US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, publicly stated that a Russian cargo ship, the Lady R, had collected arms from the Simon’s Town naval base in Cape Town in December.
The South African government refuted these allegations and criticized Ambassador Brigety for making them public.
We are adhering to certain principles regarding the allegations of arms being loaded onto a Russian ship that docked in Simon’s Town, said Ramaphosa. As there is currently no solid evidence supporting these claims, he has initiated an independent inquiry led by a retired judge to establish the truth.
According to the president, the country’s stance on this matter was clearly articulated by its envoy, Sydney Mufamadi, and his delegation during their recent visit to Washington DC for discussions with US government representatives.