By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says talk of sanctions against South Africa is alarmist, undermines the country’s sovereignty and stability of its economy.
Magwenya was addressing the media at the Union Buildings on Monday.
“We are a little bit surprised at this talk of sanctions, which we regard as reckless and as very damaging to our already ailing and struggling economy. We find this talk of sanctions as being purely alarmist and we find it to be quite undermining to South Africa’s sovereignty and the stability of our economy,” he said.
Magwenya emphasised that there has been no indication from any international body or trading partner, including the United States, that sanctions will be imposed on the country.
“There is no evidence whatsoever to point to any emergence of sanctions from any country or even the United Nations Security Council, which is the only authority to institute global sanctions.
“There is no such talk. We’ve had, as a government, several bilateral discussions with the US government and there has been no suggestion that the US will consider applying sanctions to South Africa,” Magwenya said.
Magwenya strongly reiterated government’s stance on the conflict.
“South Africa has taken a non-aligned stance on the conflict in Ukraine. South Africa has not participated in arming any of the parties that are involved in that conflict. On the contrary, South Africa has taken it upon itself to mobilise support and to mobilise engagement that will result in a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
“South Africa has been, from the onset, consistent to call for peace and to call for the parties involved in the conflict to sit down at the negotiation table. President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly stated that there is no conflict that will end with a winner or a loser, and that only a peaceful negotiation and resolution will see peace in that region,” he said.
Magwenya said a delegation of African Heads of State will be heading to the Ukraine and Russia to participate in a mission to bring peace between the two Eastern European countries.
“Due to the sensitivity of the security situation on the ground, particularly in the Ukraine, we are unable to confirm publicly the dates in which the delegation of the African Heads of State will travel to both countries.
“We will most likely confirm on the day that peace talks are taking place,” he said.
Magwenya said support for the mission has been garnered from varying quarters.
“There is a great deal of commitment from all Heads of State involved to see through this mission. Ramaphosa has participated in a number of consultations with the participants with the mission participants, as well as consultations with both Heads of States that are involved in the conflict, the UN General Secretary as well as Heads of State that are members of BRICS.
Magwenya distanced the Presidency from reports that the Brics summit scheduled for South Africa in August may be moved to China.
As things stand, South Africa will host and chair the summit.
As a signatory to the ICC’s Rome Statute, South Africa is expected to arrest Russian president Vladimir Putin should he set foot in the country.