By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has told Russia’s Vladimir Putin on Tuesday afternoon, that South Africa sees Russia as a valued ally.
Ramaphosa had a bilateral meeting Putin on the eve of the BRICS summit of emerging economies that will take place in the Russian city of Kazan.
“We continue to see Russia as a valued ally, as a valued friend who supported us right from the beginning, from the days of our struggle against apartheid,” Ramaphosa said.
“We are going to have important discussions here in Kazan within the BRICS family,” the president added.
“We will have time, as I briefed you on the telephone, to talk about that and inform you how the whole process of governing South Africa with a number of other parties is evolving as we have sought to unite and stabilise the country politically.”
Putin said Moscow’s relations with South Africa were based on “strategic partnership, equality, and mutual respect.”
And, of course, Russia attaches particular importance to strengthening relations with the countries of the African continent,” the Kremlin chief added.
BRICS held its 2023 summit in Johannesburg but Putin did not attend in person, after the International Criminal Court — of which South Africa is a member — issued a warrant for his arrest.
South Africa has abstained from UN resolutions condemning Russia’s February 2022 military offensive against Ukraine but has called for an end to the conflict, spearheading an African “peace mission” to both countries last year.
BRICS leaders will reflect on the status of mutually beneficial BRICS cooperation, regional and global economic and political developments as well as global governance reform.
The summit will also hear reports from the New Development Bank, BRICS Interbank Cooperation Mechanism, BRICS Business Council and BRICS Women’s Business Alliance.