Steenhuisen wants urgent Parliament debate over Russian arms ship scandal

This after President Cyril Ramaphosa failed to respond to the question posed by Steenhuisen in the National Assembly on Thursday whether war materials from South Africa were indeed loaded onto the ship, called Lady R.

“I will be writing to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, to table an urgent debate of national importance on South Africa’s involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine, and the dire economic consequences South Africa faces as a result of this violation of international law, and South Africa’s own Constitutional-based foreign policy”, says Steenhuisen.

Ramaphosa was answering questions in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon on government's efforts to fight corruption and tackle allegations of illegal financial activities when the issue of the weapons was raised.

Earlier in the day, the United States Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, told the media that war materials and ammunition were loaded onto sanctioned Russian ship, Lady R, which departed South Africa’s naval base in Simon’s Town in December 2022.

In Parliament, Steenhuisen added that the confirmation by the US proves that Ramaphosa lied to the country.

“This development proves not only that South Africa is not non-aligned in Russia’s war on Ukraine, but that President Ramaphosa and his government have already lied to South Africa and the world as to our country’s involvement in this devastating conflict.

“This also jeopardises South Africa’s preferential access to the US market under the auspices of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

“With our economy on its knees and rampant unemployment, the ANC is now forsaking South Africa’s last chance at economic renewal based solely on greed and personal interest.”

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