SA has no record of arms sold to Russia, says Ntshavheni
Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says government doesn't have any records of arms being sold to Russia as alleged by the US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety.
The ambassador claimed in a media briefing on Thursday that South Africa provided weapons and ammunition to Russia.
The ambassador claims that the weapons were transported through a Russian ship that docked at Simon's Town naval base in Cape Town in December last year.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of Colombia's vice president Francia Elena Márquez's visit to South Africa on Friday, Ntshavheni said there are no records confirming any sale of arms from South Africa to Russia.
"We have cooperation agreements at all levels. And that is where we are as a country. We value the US as a trading partner but the US cannot bully us, we will not be bullied.
“We are a sovereign state, we have our own rules. And just to assure South Africans, in terms of the allegations that we have sold armaments to Russia, we have explained that there is a process that is followed when arms are sold in this country.
“And the committee, the National Conventional Arms Control Committee, has not received or considered an application for the sale of arms to either Russia, Ukraine or Belarus," added Ntshavheni.
The Presidency has already announced that the government will establish an independent inquiry to investigate claims.
The Department of International Relations and Co-operation also vowed to take diplomatic steps against the ambassador for his comments.
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