The U. S. ambassador to South Africa accused the country Thursday of providing weapons and ammunition to Russia for its war in Ukraine via a cargo ship that docked secretly at a naval base near the city of Cape Town for three days in December. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said an investigation was underway.

Ambassador Reuben Brigety said the U.S. was certain the equipment was loaded onto the Russian vessel at the Simon’s Town naval base and then transported to Russia, according to reports of his comments carried by multiple South African news outlets.

Ramaphosa was in Cape Town answering questions in Parliament when news of Brigety’s comments broke. When a lawmaker asked about the weapons and ammunition, the president replied that “the matter is being looked into, and in time we will be able to speak about it.”

Ramaphosa declined to comment further, citing the need for an investigation to play out.

The leader of the political opposition, John Steenhuisen, asked the president if South Africa was “actively arming Russian soldiers who are murdering and maiming innocent people?” Steenhuisen also asked if Ramaphosa could confirm that “weapons of war” were loaded onto the Russian ship.

Ammunition supplies have become a problem for Russia in the war. The leader of Russian military company Wagner complained last week about his mercenary soldiers in Ukraine allegedly dealing with dire shortages.

In a statement issued later Thursday, Ramaphosa’s office acknowledged a Russian ship named the Lady R docked in South Africa, but the office did not say where or what the purpose of the stop was.

The statement criticized the American ambassador for going public and said there was an agreement that U.S. intelligence services would provide whatever evidence they have to aid South Africa’s investigation.

The Lady R and a Russian company tied to it, Transmorflot LLC, were sanctioned by the U.S. last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for being involved in the transportation of military equipment and weapons.

Brigety said earlier Thursday that South Africa’s alleged arming of Russia during its invasion of Ukraine was “extremely serious” and called into question South Africa’s supposed neutral stance.

“Among the things we (the U.S.) noted was the docking of the cargo ship in the Simon’s Town naval base between the 6th and 8th December 2022, which we are confident uploaded weapons and ammunition onto that vessel in Simon’s Town as it made its way back to Russia,” Brigety was quoted as saying at a press conference in the South African capital, Pretoria.

Steenhuisen’s opposition party had previously raised questions over the appearance of a “mystery” Russian vessel in Simon’s Town. In late December, South African Defense Minister Thandi Modise said the ship was handling an “old order” for ammunition, and that arms were offloaded, not loaded onto the ship.

The South African government, a key partner for the U.S. in Africa, has stated numerous times it has a neutral position on the war in Ukraine and wants the conflict resolved peacefully.

But recent displays of its closeness to Russia opened Africa’s most developed country to accusations that it has effectively taken Russia’s side.

South Africa hosted Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for talks in January, giving him a platform to blame the West for the war in Ukraine.

Weeks later, South Africa allowed warships from the Russian and Chinese navies to perform drills off its east coast. The Russian navy brought its Admiral Gorshkov frigate, one of its navy’s flagship vessels, and the exercises strained South Africa’s relationship with the U.S. and other Western allies.

The South African navy also took part in the drills and characterized them as exercises that would “strengthen the already flourishing relations between South Africa, Russia and China.”

South Africa also faces a diplomatic dilemma over a possible visit this year by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes involving the abductions of children from Ukraine.

Putin is due to visit South Africa in August for a meeting of leaders of the BRICS economic bloc, which is made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

South Africa is a signatory to the international war crimes court and obliged to arrest Putin. The government indicated it would not detain the Russian leader and threatened to leave the ICC instead, but Ramaphosa’s office released a statement last month backtracking on the threat.

Can US proof this allegations?

But the US can supply weapon and ammunitions to Ukraine?

South Africa should stay neutral in the war

South Africa beware. That is how Sudan approved a Russian naval base in their country and civil war kicked off.

But, western country are greedy mehn. They wanna weaken Russia but empowering Ukrainian soldiers. This is a proxy war between Western countries vs Russia. But, I know, South Africa is on the spot light and they dare not look at the US and it allies. They got no ball to do that.

So south Africa sef get weapons...??

President Ramaphosa should not jeopardize the future of South Africans by being neutral in the war between Ukraine and Russia.
African countries should not be involved in that war.

After they will say Nigeria is giant of Africa

Dafresh:
After they will say Nigeria is giant of Africa

Na mumu giant I begi giant when they sleep for market square.

USA and using media to lie whenever things ain’t going there way, how many weapon SA get for them to be giving a whole Russia weapon, every weapon on the planet 60% of it was created by Russians that’s what they are good at, and Putin also Na one person wey fit use any amount to fuel weapon making, so cause USA wasn’t able to brain SA the way they did Ukraine, they had to bring out there weapon which is the media to lie and spin truth as always... Thought u guys said Ukraine was winning some days ago, so what happen again, Na social media winning lol

.

Iamicekid:
USA and using media to lie whenever things ain’t going there way, how many weapon SA get for them to be giving a whole Russia weapon, every weapon on the planet 60% of it was created by Russians that’s what they are good at, and Putin also Na one person wey fit use any amount to fuel weapon making, so cause USA wasn’t able to brain SA the way they did Ukraine, they had to bring out there weapon which is the media to lie and spin truth as always... Thought u guys said Ukraine was winning some days ago, so what happen again, Na social media winning lol

South Africa has some of the best weapons manufacturing capacity first developed during the apartheid era when it was facing international isolation (including nuclear weapons) - like how North Korea and Iran are now.

The biggest company is Denel and is owned by the state to this day. Much of SA defence systems are manufactured locally and SA has one of the best military in Africa .

Iamicekid:
USA and using media to lie whenever things ain’t going there way, how many weapon SA get for them to be giving a whole Russia weapon, every weapon on the planet 60% of it was created by Russians that’s what they are good at, and Putin also Na one person wey fit use any amount to fuel weapon making, so cause USA wasn’t able to brain SA the way they did Ukraine, they had to bring out there weapon which is the media to lie and spin truth as always... Thought u guys said Ukraine was winning some days ago, so what happen again, Na social media winning lol

I thought they said Russia will finish Ukraine under 1 week but guess what the war don dey go more than 7 months if am not mistaken . Lol

South Africa is the real giant of Africa. Nigeria just have ordinary population with 70% of them already starving.

Elect a drug baron and see how the country will be relegated to the level of Gambia.

SA can supply arms or support Russia I don't care. . ..
USA is always up to no good. ...

Well it would be in SA interest to support Russia as they are both in the same aligned bloc called BRICS
BRICS is an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

Jojopikin85:
I thought they said Russia will finish Ukraine under 1 week but guess what the war don dey go more than 7 months if am not mistaken . Lol

Dude if Russia actually want to finish Ukraine, it won’t be up to a week, even with all this that is happening Russia doesn’t even feel like they are at war, there economy is going well and people are living there day to day life as normal whereas u can’t say the same for Ukraine

The real giant of Africa. Not the one led by a gworo chewing herdsman & about to be succeeded by a drug lord.

Parachoko:
South Africa should stay neutral in the war

Yup, they gonna nuke us

xxxtedyxxx:
So south Africa sef get weapons...??

No jokes oh, they even have fission devices.
In weapons production they're way ahead of Nigeria

KingCold:
Yup, they gonna nuke us

Yoh dude, looks like all global attention is turning this way 🇿🇦🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️

Both powers have nukes.

WannaHowzit:


Yoh dude, looks like all global attention is turning this way 🇿🇦🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️🙆🏾‍♂️

Both powers have nukes.

Ey mfana, and I don't have trust in these ANC bufoons

Iamicekid:
USA and using media to lie whenever things ain’t going there way, how many weapon SA get for them to be giving a whole Russia weapon, every weapon on the planet 60% of it was created by Russians that’s what they are good at, and Putin also Na one person wey fit use any amount to fuel weapon making, so cause USA wasn’t able to brain SA the way they did Ukraine, they had to bring out there weapon which is the media to lie and spin truth as always... Thought u guys said Ukraine was winning some days ago, so what happen again, Na social media winning lol

Almost all the weapons used by SA military are locally made (aircrafts, helicopters, missiles, tanks, armored vehicles, guns etc). They have one of the best and developed military industry Africa. They even made the first and only nuclear bomb in Africa which they later dismantle after signing the nuclear bomb control pack.

Exjoker:
Almost all the weapons used by SA military are locally made (aircrafts, helicopters, missiles, tanks, armored vehicles, guns etc). They have one of the best and developed military industry Africa. They even made the first and only nuclear bomb in Africa which they later dismantle after signing the nuclear bomb control pack.

Does that now mean they can supply Russia weapon, Russia ooo

lorenzobanks:
But, western country are greedy mehn. They wanna weaken Russia but empowering Ukrainian soldiers. This is a proxy war between Western countries vs Russia. But, I know, South Africa is on the spot light and they dare not look at the US and it allies. They got no ball to do that.

Russia were never supposed to invade Ukraine. USA invaded Iraq and Afghanistan because of terrorism and nothing else to give the terrorists a good dose. So make Africa were this fight no concern them back off

Iamicekid:


Dude if Russia actually want to finish Ukraine, it won’t be up to a week, even with all this that is happening Russia doesn’t even feel like they are at war, there economy is going well and people are living there day to day life as normal whereas u can’t say the same for Ukraine

story do u know how many Russia soldiers that have been killed so far? To the extent Russia are now turning prisoners to soldier, bro it's not easy to wipe out a whole country backed by westerners in a week. Even Russia themselves didn't expect the war will take this long.

Parachoko:
South Africa should stay neutral in the war

And the US should also stay clear from the Ukrainian hostility.

thundafire:
Russia were never supposed to invade Ukraine. [b]USA invaded Iraq and Afghanistan because of terrorism and nothing else [/b]to give the terrorists a good dose. So make Africa were this fight no concern them back off

Please explain to me because I do not understand, what form of terrorism made the USA invaded Iraq?

Jojopikin85:
story do u know how many Russia soldiers that have been killed so far? To the extent Russia are now turning prisoners to soldier, bro it's not easy to wipe out a whole country backed by westerners in a week. Even Russia themselves didn't expect the war will take this long.

With all there backings and sanctioning, dem still Never win or come close, Russia isn’t at war, if Russia is really at war the world would know it, so u really think if this was Russia full power the whole NATO will fear him for this long, dey there dey play they chop all the media lies