EFF leader Julius Malema has labelled the USA as a crybaby after the Western country alleged that Mzansi supplied Russia with weapons.
Speaking at the Soweto Theatre where he attended the Opening Night of Leruo's play on Thursday night, 11 May, Malema said the US was trying to find a way of punishing South Africa for its position on the Russia and Ukraine war.
He said the allegations were manufactured and misplaced.
“The current government has got no capacity to empower Russians with weapons against their own handlers. The concerns of America in relation to South Africa’s posture in the war between Russia and Ukraine are unfounded.
"We've got a long-standing relationship with Russia when it was still under the Soviet Union, and Russia has helped us to be where we are.
"That will not be dictated to by the USA who becomes our friends,” said Malema.
He said if there was any truth to the allegation, it would be the other way around.
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USA ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, made the shocking claims on Thursday, 11 May, that a Russian ship was loaded with ammunition and arms in Cape Town in December.
"The arming of the Russians is extremely serious, and we do not consider this issue to be resolved," Brigety said.
The ambassador said this without providing any evidence.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said Brigety’s remarks undermined the spirit of cooperation and partnership that characterised the recent engagements between US government officials and a South African official delegation led by national security special advisor to the president, Dr Sydney Mufumadi.
”It is public knowledge that a Russian vessel known as Lady R docked in South Africa. Allegations have since been made about the purpose of the voyage. While no evidence has been provided to date to support these allegations, the government has undertaken to institute an independent enquiry to be led by a retired judge,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
Malema said he would await the outcome but insisted that the US pressured SA to arrest Putin if he attends the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) summit in August 2023.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest for Putin in March 2023 because Russia invaded Ukraine.
“They want us not to allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to come, and now they are spreading false alarms and propaganda as an attempt to put pressure on South Africa. We call on our government not to surrender to that pressure.
"President Putin is more than welcome here. The people of South Africa will protect him. Not that he doesn't have the capacity to protect himself. No one in South Africa and the whole of Africa combined has got the capacity to arrest President Putin. We should not even take chances,” said Malema.
