Mbalula wants US ambassador 'gone' over weapons claims
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has questioned the continued presence of US ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety following his claims that Pretoria supplied weapons to Russia.
In May, Brigety alleged that his government was ‘confident’ South Africa provided arms to Russia amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
The explosive remarks received widespread condemnation from government and ANC officials, prompting President Cyril Ramaphosa to establish an inquiry chaired by retired senior Judge Phineas Mojapelo to probe the claims.
Earlier this month, City Press reported that the Russian cargo ship, Lady R, did not load weapons or ammunition when it called at the Simon’s Town Naval Base in December last year.
Instead, the newspaper said the ship loaded food and other supplies for its return trip to Russia.
Speaking at a Cuban symposium, led by President Miguel Díaz-Canel in Pretoria on Wednesday, Mbalula said the White House should recall Brigety.
"In this regard, the US political strategy has identified Russia and China as the two world powers that need to be contained. This is the ANC conference resolution that made the US ambassador lie about our country."
"How can we give weapons to Russia? It is Russia that should give South Africa weapons, and it has now been proven that we didn't give weapons to Russia, and we still don't understand why is this man (ambassador) still here in South Africa,” he said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is yet to make the ‘Lady R’ report public.
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