By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The African National Congress (ANC) has held a meeting with the US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety after diplomatic spat.
Brigety held a meeting with the ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula at Luthuli House on Wednesday following allegations that South Africa provided weapons and ammunition to Russia through a Russian ship that docked at Simon’s Town naval base in Cape Town in December last year.
Brigety had raised concerns about the ANC’s elective conference resolution, which criticised the US and its involvement in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
This resolution implied the US was only interested in protecting its image as a global power.
Parts of the resolution stated: The ongoing war in Ukraine has far-reaching strategic geopolitical and economic consequences for the people of the world.
“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 in pursuit of the objectives of the so-called Wolfowitz doctrine.
“According to this doctrine, the US should not allow any country in the world, in the post-Cold War period, to challenge US interests, especially its hegemony.
In a statement released on Wednesday, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said the discussion between Mbalula and Brigety was “cordial”.
“Whilst the meeting was cordial the Secretary-General firmly reiterated the centrality of the ANC’s approach to international relations,” says Bhengu-Motsiri.
“Since its formation, the ANC’s political, economic, and ideological ethos has been progressive Internationalism, Pan-Africanism, and international and continental solidarity.”
Bhengu-Motsiri says the meeting also discussed the importance of the relationship between the people of South Africa and the people of the United States of America.
“Whilst there may points of divergence, on certain points we remain committed to diplomatic engagements to resolve challenges on our shared interests,” she says.
The meeting agreed to a follow-up bilateral meeting with the ANC’s NEC Subcommittee on international relations.
“The ANC will continue engaging with members of the diplomatic corps, as we believe that through dialogue, we can bring resolution to our collective challenges,” says Bhengu-Motsiri.
The SA government has been criticised for its increasingly questionable “non-aligned” stance on the war in Ukraine and refusal to call out Russia for its invasion.