https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230615/propaganda-is-propaganda-south-africas-defense-minister-slams-lady-r-scandal-claims-1059934424.html
'Propaganda is Propaganda': South Africa's Defense Minister Slams Lady R Scandal Claims
'Propaganda is Propaganda': South Africa's Defense Minister Slams Lady R Scandal Claims
Sputnik Africa
Last month, the 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... 15.06.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-06-15T12:28+0200
2023-06-15T12:28+0200
2023-06-15T13:56+0200
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Defense Minister Thandi Modise has described allegations that South Africa provided Russia with arms as propaganda, noting that the country didn't breach any sanctions when the Lady R vessel docked near Cape Town in December last year. Speaking at the National Assembly as part of the peace and security cluster on Wednesday, the minister confirmed that South Africa received a consignment from Russia but reiterated that her country didn't supply anything.In May, after the US ambassador made his allegations, Modise denied that arms were loaded onto Russian ship Lady R. She emphasized that there was no evidence of arms being loaded and asked for patience as an independent inquiry was conducted.The country's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, appointed an independent expert commission to investigate the situation regarding the Russian ship. The commission aims to confirm that South Africa observed all constitutional, legal, and other obligations while Lady R was anchored in its waters.On 11 May, US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, said that while Lady R was at the South African naval base at Simon’s Town in December 2022, armaments were loaded aboard the vessel. Later in the day, the South African government denied the allegations, stressing that the US side had provided no evidence to support its claims.The next day, Brigety, who was summoned to the South African Foreign Ministry because of his statements, admitted that he had crossed a line and apologized. However, political tensions between South Africa and the US continue to escalate. This month, a group of US congressmen from both US major parties, accused South Africa of strengthening its military ties with Russia over the past 12 months in their letter dated 9 June and submitted to US' top officials. They referred in particular to the incident with the US ambassador to South Africa, as well as to the fact that the country conducted joint military drills with China and Russia in February.The legislators petitioned the White House to relocate this year's meeting for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), scheduled to take place in South Africa, to another country, claiming that Pretoria is in danger of losing its AGOA status.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20230613/top-us-legislators-demand-penalties-for-south-africa-for-maintaining-ties-with-russia-1059878309.html
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'Propaganda is Propaganda': South Africa's Defense Minister Slams Lady R Scandal Claims
12:28 15.06.2023 (Updated: 13:56 15.06.2023) Last month, the 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 2022. The allegation sparked a diplomatic row between Pretoria and Washington, with South Africa criticizing the ambassador for making such assertions.
Defense Minister Thandi Modise has described allegations that South Africa provided Russia with arms as propaganda, noting that the country didn't breach any sanctions when the Lady R vessel docked near Cape Town in December last year.
Speaking at the National Assembly as part of the peace and security cluster on Wednesday, the minister confirmed that South Africa received a consignment from Russia but reiterated that her country didn't supply anything.
"Propaganda is propaganda. Whether it is internal in any country or it is across the world. We stand by our statement. We did not load anything destined for any other," she is quoted as saying by local media.
In May, after the US ambassador made his allegations, Modise
denied that arms were loaded onto Russian ship Lady R. She emphasized that there was no evidence of arms being loaded and asked for patience as an independent inquiry was conducted.
The country's president, Cyril Ramaphosa,
appointed an independent expert commission to investigate the situation regarding the Russian ship. The commission aims to confirm that South Africa observed all constitutional, legal, and other obligations while Lady R was anchored in its waters.
On 11 May, US Ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, said that while Lady R was at the South African naval base at Simon’s Town in December 2022, armaments were loaded aboard the vessel. Later in the day, the South African government denied the allegations, stressing that the US side had provided no evidence to support its claims.
The next day, Brigety, who
was summoned to the South African Foreign Ministry because of his statements, admitted that he had crossed a line and apologized.
However, political tensions between South Africa and the US continue to escalate. This month, a group of US congressmen from both US major parties,
accused South Africa of strengthening its military ties with Russia over the past 12 months in their letter dated 9 June and submitted to US' top officials. They referred in particular to the incident with the US ambassador to South Africa, as well as to the fact that the country conducted joint military drills with China and Russia in February.
The legislators petitioned the White House to relocate this year's meeting for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), scheduled to take place in South Africa, to another country, claiming that Pretoria is in danger of losing its AGOA status.
