https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230524/south-african-defense-minister-rejects-us-claims-of-arms-loading-on-russian-ship-lady-r-1059449281.html
South African Defense Minister Rejects US Claims of Arms Loading on Russian Ship 'Lady R'
South African Defense Minister Rejects US Claims of Arms Loading on Russian Ship 'Lady R'
Sputnik Africa
In the wake of allegations made by the US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, South African Defense Minister Thandi Modise has denied that arms were loaded onto the Russian ship Lady R while it was docked in Cape Town.
2023-05-24T17:47+0200
2023-05-24T17:47+0200
2023-05-24T17:54+0200
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South African Defense Minister Thandi Modise has denied that arms were loaded onto the Russian ship Lady R while it was docked in Cape Town. This follows allegations made by the US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety on May 11 that arms were picked up at the Simon's Town Naval Base in December last year.Opposition lawmakers called for more transparency, but Modise stressed that there was no evidence of arms loading and asked for patience as an independent inquiry, which will be headed by a retired judge appointed by the president, takes place. She did not reveal when the inquiry would begin.Minister Modise also acknowledged the long-standing relationship between the Russian and South African armies.The allegations by Washington's envoy Brigety sparked a diplomatic row between Pretoria and Washington, with the South African government criticizing the ambassador for making such claims, but the US continued to stand by its allegations.Later in the month, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the US diplomat "admitted that he crossed the line and apologized unreservedly to the government and the people of South Africa."
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South African Defense Minister Rejects US Claims of Arms Loading on Russian Ship 'Lady R'
17:47 24.05.2023 (Updated: 17:54 24.05.2023) Muhammad Nooh Osman
Writer/Editor
On May 11, US envoy to South Africa Reuben Brigety claimed that Russian ship Lady R had collected armaments from the Simon’s Town Naval Base in South Africa in December of last year. Despite the South African government's denial, the country's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, announced an independent inquiry to probe the matter.
South African Defense Minister Thandi Modise has denied that arms were loaded onto the Russian ship Lady R while it was docked in Cape Town. This follows allegations made by the US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety on May 11 that
arms were picked up at the Simon's Town Naval Base in December last year.
"We didn't. Not even a rat," Modise responded to the allegations during a budget speech in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Opposition lawmakers called for more transparency, but Modise stressed that there was no evidence of arms loading and asked for patience as an independent inquiry, which will be headed by a retired judge appointed by the president, takes place. She did not reveal when the inquiry would begin.
"I welcome the president calling for an inquiry into the matter," Modise told the media. "I say that if the defense force lied to me that something has been put in, it will emerge. All the documentation of the South African Revenue Service will be made available to that inquiry."
Minister Modise also acknowledged the long-standing relationship between the Russian and South African armies.
"The relationship between the Russian army and the South African army predates my coming into this, predates the relationship and ordering of whatever it was on that ship that was delivered and the Lady R spectacle."
The
allegations by Washington's envoy Brigety sparked a diplomatic row between Pretoria and Washington, with the South African government criticizing the ambassador for making such claims, but the US continued to stand by its allegations.
Later in the month, South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said the US diplomat "admitted that he crossed the line and apologized unreservedly to the government and the people of South Africa."
