Despite claiming to be neutral in the conflict Russia is waging in Ukraine, the US accused South Africa of providing weapons and ammunition to Russia last December, according to South African newspapers.
Reuben Brigety, the US ambassador to Pretoria, told South African journalists that the arms were loaded onto a Russian ship that had berthed at a naval base in Simon’s Town.
The ambassador was quoted by South Africa’s media as saying, “Among the things, we noted was the cargo ship’s docking in the Simon’s Town naval base between 6 and 8 December 2022, which we confidently uploaded weapons and ammunition on to that vessel in Simon’s Town as it made its way back to Russia.” News24 website saying.
According to News24, when asked how accurate the US intelligence was that South Africa was providing Russia with ammunition, Mr. Brigety responded that he would stake his entire existence on it.
According to Mr. Brigety, it would be “a mistake to underestimate the concerns in Washington,” according to the TimesLive news website.
President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa responded to questions from the opposition by declaring that “the matter is being looked into” in front of the legislature.
