Pretoria – South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) on Friday met with U.S.A. Ambassador to SA Reuben Brigety over his public claims that the country supplied arms to Russia.
Dirco spokesperson, Clayson Monyela, said on Twitter: “The meeting between U.S.A. 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.”
Ambassador Brigety struck a raw nerve when he accused South Africa of supplying weapons to Russia despite its professed neutrality in the war in Ukraine.
0n Thursday, Ambassador Brigety claimed U.S.A.-intelligence was confident that a Russian ship, Lady R, was loaded with ammunition and arms in Cape Town last December.
After Friday’s meeting, Ambassador Brigety said: “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 and the important agenda our Presidents have given us.”
Monyela said the relations between the U.S.A and South Africa were cordial, strong, and mutually beneficial.
“We reaffirmed our commitment to continue to work together for the benefit of the people of the two countries,” Monyela said.
“There’s a commitment to use established diplomatic channels to raise whatever issue may arise in the management of the bilateral relations between the two countries.”
The Dirco spokesperson said SA International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor also spoke to her U.S.A. counterpart, Secretary Antony Blinken.
“As previously stated, the National Conventional Arms Control Committee has not approved any sale of arms to Russia related to the period and incident in question,” said Monyela.
“The inquiry initiated by HE President Cyril Ramaphosa will be a platform to establish facts and role players in the incident in question. Anyone found to have broken the law will face consequences.”
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