US ambassador apologises for Russia arms comment
The department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) held a meeting with the US Ambassador to South Africa, Rueben Brigety, on Friday.
This follows the explosives claim by the ambassador that his government was ‘confident’ South Africa sold arms to Russia, amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
International relations Minister Naledi Pandor met with Brigety on Friday following widespread demand for answers, with many describing the development as a diplomatic nightmare and a threat to economic relations between Pretoria and Washington, based on the African Growth and Opportunity Act.
READ: South Africans fret over US arms-to-Russia charge
Spokesperson for Dirco, Clayson Monyela, saays Brigety apologized for his utterances.
“Ambassador Reuben E. Brigety admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly to the Government and the people of South Africa.”
Brigety is yet to publicly apologise; however, he has tweeted that he was grateful for the meeting which presented an opportunity to ‘correct any misimpressions left by [his] public remarks’.
I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks. In our conversation, I re-affirmed the strong partnership between our two countries & the important agenda our Presidents have given us.
— Ambassador Reuben Brigety (@USAmbRSA) May 12, 2023
At the same time, Dirco has welcomed the decision by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint an independent inquiry to look into the allegations made by the ambassador, further insisting South Africa has strict processes in place when selling arms to other contries.
“South Africa is known globally for having one of the most stringent processes when selling arms to other countries. The process is managed by the National Convention Arms Control Committee (NCACC), which was created through an Act of Parliament, the National Conventional Arms Control Act 41 of 2002 (NCAC Act), and the Constitution.”
Meanwhile, the governing African National Congress (ANC) says it too will request to meet with Brigety over his comments.
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