SA’s moral minefield
SA-SAUDI ARABIA: DEPARTMENT TO HOST INVESTORS FROM KINGDOM
While the world has condemned the death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi under highly suspicious circumstances and called for harsh sanctions, South Africa continues to do business with the kingdom.
Death of journalist under suspicious circumstances draws wide condemnation.
It’s business as usual as far as bilateral trade relations with Saudi Arabia are concerned, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). This as South Africa faces a diplomatic conundrum over the death of a Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi under suspicious circumstances at the kingdom’s consular offices in Turkey.
While the circumstances surrounding Khashoggi’s death were unclear, the middle eastern superpower’s account of his death has raised suspicion around the government’s involvement.
According to foreign media reports, Khashoggi may have been tortured and dismembered while still alive inside the Saudis’ Turkish Consulate.
Turkish media have reported that an audio recording of his torture to prove that his death came at the hands of several Saudi state operatives who flew into and out of the country on the same day of Khashoggi’s death.
This has led to an international outcry against the regime, which has in the past also come under fire for its human rights record.
As far as the DTI was concerned yesterday, there was no directive from above to halt several upcoming bilateral engagements with Saudi Arabia.
This despite the fact that president Cyril Ramaphosa cancelled state security minister Dipuo Letsatsi’s planned trip to Dubai to meet with the Saudi Arabian head of intelligence.
South Africa was expected to host investors from Saudi Arabia next week during the International Investment Conference, according to DTI spokesperson Sidwell Medupi.
Medupi said the department was also expecting a technical team from the Saudi government to visit South Africa shortly as part of its ongoing talks for partnership in the energy sector.
Meanwhile, it appears neither the defence department, arms manufacturer Denel nor the Presidency is in the loop about a multi-billion rand arms trade deal Saudi Arabia wants to cut with South Africa.
Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s spokesperson Joy Peter said she would not comment, and seemed incredulous that the question was being directed to the defence ministry.
Mapisa-Nqakula was not involved in “procurement issues”, she explained, and she was unaware of whether the department itself was directly involved.
She did, however pass the buck to department spokesperson Simphiwe Dlamini, who could not be reached yesterday.
Denel denied any involvement in talks earlier this month. – simnikiweh@citizen.co.za