Pandor plays Russian Roulette

Dear Editor

During a Parliamentary questions session on 14 June 2023, Minister Naledi Pandor noted in response to an oral question from the DA, that South Africa’s invitation to Vladimir Putin to attend the BRICS Summit in August stands, and no decision has been taken by Cabinet to move the Summit elsewhere.

In relation to continued access to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides South Africa with preferential trade access to US markets, Pandor stated that South Africa would not be “coerced” into changing its policy of non-alignment.

The Minister went on to note that South Africa does not act in accordance with unilateral sanctions imposed by a single member state of the United Nations, adding, “if we open up room to ourselves to be abused and compelled to follow a policy direction that is not our own, we will regret that.” The Minister’s insinuation here is clear: the United States is attempting to coerce, abuse and compel South Africa into adopting their domestic foreign policy positions.

This hostile remark flies in the face of the friendly relationship that has characterised US-SA relations for decades. The simple fact is that Pandor’s government is not practicing their own policy of “non-alignment”. The terms and conditions of AGOA are simple. Beneficiaries to this agreement may not act in a manner that runs contrary to America’s national security or foreign policy interests, nor may they participate in human rights abuses – including waging war, or supporting terrorism.

In February, on the anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, South Africa hosted joint military exercises with Russia and China. In April, a sanctioned Russian freight aircraft was given special permissions to land at Waterkloof military base to allegedly deliver ‘diplomatic mail’. In May, the Commander of the South African ground forces, Lieutenant-General Lawrence Mbatha led a delegation to Russia to discuss “issues relating to military cooperation and interaction”. This was shortly followed by Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni’s attendance at a high-level security meeting in Russia. Last week, the inquiry into allegations that South Africa supplied weapons to Russia in December was classified by the Presidency.

In addition to the ANC’s on-going military engagements with the Russian Federation, South Africa abstained from a recent United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES 11/1 condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This resolution was sponsored by 96 democracies and passed with 141 countries voting in favour.

The arrogance on display by Pandor now runs contrary to South Africa’s most basic national interest: food security. South Africa’s exclusion from AGOA will destroy thousands of businesses, farms and jobs. The fact remains that the ANC is protecting an alleged war criminal in order to shore up party-political patronage with Moscow, at the expense of the livelihoods of millions of our people.

The DA will continue work to repair and cement our relationships with the international community of democracies, who share our Constitutional values and prosperous vision for South Africa.

Regards

Emma Louise Powell MP
DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation