Is South Africa really neutral?

THE company you keep says much about your character.

In typical American style, US Ambassador Reuben E Brigety pulled out his gun and fired wildly at South Africa, accusing it of supplying arms and ammunition to Russia.

A fierce war of words then erupted. As calls for the expulsion of the US ambassador from South Africa grew, Brigety offered an apology for his rash, undiplomatic comments.

But the damage had already been done. The rand had tumbled, plunging the country deeper into an economic crisis.

President Cyril Ramaphosa went on the defensive and denied South Africa was a supplier of arms to Russia and reiterated his country’s neutral position. Russia is a superpower, second only to the US. What arms would it need from a little power like South Africa – spears, knobkerries and shields made of goat skin?

But it didn’t stop the diplomatic row with the US; nor did it stop the heated public debate. Many were not entirely convinced about South Africa’s non-aligned stance. They believed the president was paying lip service about neutrality.

It is no secret that the ANC is friends with the Russians. While the diplomatic row raged on, an ANC delegation was in Moscow, perhaps as an act of defiance against the West. Then there is Brics, of which South Africa is a member. But even more compelling evidence is that South Africa is edging closer into the arms of the Russian bear, and compromising its neutrality, was when it joined Russia and China in naval exercises off the KZN coast.

President Ramaphosa seems to be two-faced. He proclaims to the world that South Africa is a neutral country but keeps company with Russia.

But South Africa is a sovereign, independent country and can form alliances with whomever it pleases.

What, then, about the question of humanity and morality? Should South Africa befriend Russia which invaded another sovereign, independent country?

But if we chastise South Africa for its friendship with Russia, what about the US, Britain and France? How clean are their hands? In the world of geopolitics, morality is a disposable item.

This should leave Ramaphosa in a quandary. We have serious problems of our own. With the crippling blackouts, unemployment and poverty, we are staring down the barrel of an economic meltdown.

Ramaphosa should not play Russian roulette and risk the lives of his people. He should put his country first, not the ANC or Russia.

But then again, there’s the question of trade and foreign investment. South Africa is a big trading partner of the West. Should it risk its lucrative trade with the West in return for a negligible trade with Russia? Ramaphosa must consider carefully. THYAGARAJ MARKANDAN

Kloof