ANC ‘taken aback’ by ambassador’s outburst

-2+ANNESB85* – The AN& says it is µtaken aback¶ by 8S Ambassador 5euben Brigety¶s allegations that South Africa SA supplied arms to a 5ussian vessel that docked in Simon¶s Town, &ape Town, in December last year.

³:e are going to meet with the 8S ambassador to understand him Tuite closely in terms of the issues he has raised about the AN& because in our view, a diplomat must understand, especially from a superpower like the 8S, the separation of party and government where there has been a diplomatic fallout,” said AN& Secretary-*eneral S* )ikile 0balula.

Though Brigety has µapologised unreservedly¶ for his utterances after a dressing down by 0inister of International

5elations Naledi 3andor last week, he has not withdrawn the allegations.

3resident &yril 5amaphosa has instituted an inTuiry to be headed by an independent Mudge to get to the bottom of the allegations. The government has denied Brigety¶s claims.

In his outburst, the ambassador also accused /uthuli +ouse of ignoring his repeated reTuests for dialogue, a claim the AN& has denied.

Allegations

The e[plosive allegations set off chain reactions, with 5amaphosa contacting 5ussian president 9ladimir 3utin on )riday and his 8krainian counterpart 9olodymyr =elensky on Saturday. 0eanwhile 3andor, discussed the matter with her 8S counterpart Antony Blinken.

After a National :orking &ommittee N:& visit to Kwa=ulu-Natal, 0balula said the AN& wants to meet Brigety.

+e said 5amaphosa¶s security adviser, Sydney 0ufamadi, who led a diplomatic envoy dispatched by 5amaphosa to :ashington last month, briefed the media in detail on Saturday about the trip.

³:e are Tuite delighted about that engagement and addressing issues that the 8S may have raised with our government in terms of whatever concerns that may have been raised. :e are taken aback by the comments of the ambassador, for which he has apologised.

³2ur department of international relations ... has led that matter very well and we are impressed by the steps they have taken to defend South Africa¶s territorial integrity and sovereignty, and they must continue to do that because that¶s their duty.”

0balula said the party has not contemplated e[pelling Brigety from SA.

Resolute

In a statement after the N:& meeting, the party said it remained resolute that a better world and better Africa is one where war is not used to resolve differences.

³:e are known as a country that fosters peace and a human rights-based approach. :e stand by this and urge our government to defend and advance our national interests,” the AN& said.

:eighing in on the fiasco during the weekend, 5amaphosa said the 8S¶s claims were discussed in a µvery cordial¶ meeting.