South Africa Furious Over U.S. Allegations That They Have Supplied Russia With Weapons And Ammunition

The meeting between USA Ambassador to South Africa @ReubenBrigety and @DIRCO_ZA
took place this afternoon. We conveyed our displeasure with his conduct and he admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly. The relations between the USA & South Africa are cordial,… pic.twitter.com/5pBxTgyI82

— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) May 12, 2023

I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor this evening and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks. In our conversation, I re-affirmed the strong partnership between our two countries & the important agenda our Presidents have given us.

— Ambassador Reuben Brigety (@USAmbRSA) May 12, 2023

Reuters: South Africa rejects U.S. accusations of arms shipment to Russia 

JOHANNESBURG/WASHINGTON (Reuters) -South African officials on Friday hit back at U.S. accusations that a Russian ship had collected weapons from a naval base near Cape Town late last year, a move investors fear could lead Washington to impose sanctions. 

The U.S. ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety said on Thursday he was confident that a Russian ship under U.S. sanctions took aboard weapons from the Simon's Town base in December, suggesting the transfer was not in line with Pretoria's stance of neutrality in Russia's war against Ukraine. 

Western diplomats were alarmed at South Africa carrying out naval exercises with Russia and China this year, and at the timing of a visit by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.  

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WNU Editor: The US ambassador who made these unfounded allegations should be recalled immediately. U.S. ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety has already apologized, but it is too late, a line has been crossed.

South Africa Furious Over U.S. Allegations That They Have Supplied Russia With Weapons And Ammunition  

South Africa summons US ambassador over weapons for Russia allegations -- AP  

South Africans Fret Over U.S. Arms-To-Russia Charge -- AFP  

South Africa summons US envoy over Russia arms accusation -- DW 

South Africa Lashes Out At US 'Megaphone Diplomacy, Bullying' After Arms For Russia Allegations -- Zero Hedge

U.S. Accuses South Africa Of Secretly Sending Arms And Ammunition To Russia

FILE - Russian-flagged cargo ship Lady R docks at Simon's Town naval base, in Cape Town, South Africa, Dec. 7, 2022.  

CNN: South Africa loaded arms onto sanctioned Russian vessel, US ambassador tells local media  

Johannesburg, South Africa CNN — The US ambassador to South Africa on Thursday accused the South African government of delivering arms and ammunition to a sanctioned Russian cargo vessel late last year, local media said. 

“Among the things we noted was the docking of the cargo ship in Simon’s Town naval base between the 6th to the 8th of December 2022, which we are confident uploaded weapons and ammunition onto that vessel in Simon’s Town as it made its way back to Russian,” Ambassador Reuben Brigety II told local media, including News24.com. 

“We are confident that weapons were loaded onto that vessel, and I would bet my life on the accuracy on that assertion,” the ambassador also said in a video released by Newzroom Afrika, a local news channel that was also at the briefing.  

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U.S. Accuses South Africa Of Secretly Sending Arms And Ammunition To Russia  

US ambassador accuses South Africa of providing weapons, ammo to Russia -- AP  

South Africa loaded weapons onto Russian vessel, U.S. envoy says -- Washington Post  

US envoy says Russian ship picked up weapons in South Africa -- Reuters  

Sanctioned Russian Cargo Ship Loaded With Weapons After Docking In South Africa, U.S. Ambassador Says -- RFE  

South Africa supplied arms to Russia - US ambassador Reuben Brigety -- BBC  

US accuses South Africa of secretly arming Russia as war in Ukraine escalates -- USA Today  

South Africa gave military support to Russia, claims US ambassador -- Euronews 

US Accuses South Africa of Shipping Arms to Russia -- VOA  

Rand Plummets To Record Low After US Accuses South Africa Of Supplying Weapons To Russia -- Zero Hedge

U.S. And South South Africa -- Why Is The Relationship Going South

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) watches as South Africa's President Jacob Zuma speaks during a photo call after a brief meeting in Durban, August 8, 2009. Clinton encouraged South Africa on Friday to press for reform in Zimbabwe and said Washington would build closer ties with Pretoria after strains under the Bush administration.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

State of Desperation -- Newsweek

Why is South Africa, our most stalwart ally in all of Africa, acting like a rogue state?

Over the weekend, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and South Africa's President Jacob Zuma—the most important interlocutor during her 11-day, seven-nation tour of Africa—professed their mutual regard. Clinton vowed "to put meat on the bone" of U.S.-South African relations; Zuma said that he, too, wants to take them to "a higher level." Washington was perpetually stymied by Zuma's predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, who questioned the link between HIV and AIDS (a disastrous posture that Harvardresearchers think led to nearly 400,000 preventable deaths) and defended President Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe. So the United States hopes Zuma, who often tussled with Mbeki and has promised a more transparent governing style, can be the sort of leader who will fulfill South Africa's role as the political, economic, and military anchor of the continent.

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My Comment: My answer to Newsweek is .... why are you surprised?

South Africa has been ruled by the leadership of the ANC for the past 15 years. These men ... from Nelson Mandela to Jacob-Zuma of today have always espoused a very hardcore socialist and anti-western ideology. It is in their writings, and now it is official policy.

Selling weapon systems to anti-western states is as natural to them as supporting tyrants (like Zimbabwe's Muhabe) is to remain in power.

Jacob-Zuma represents the worse of them. His corruption and brutality to remain in power is legendary, and the fact that he now runs the South African government apparatus is (for South Africans and Africa as a whole) a worrisome development.