The US ambassador has “apologised unreservedly” for not going through the proper channels when accusing South Africa of arming Russia – but his accusations still stand.
Brigety had been summoned to a meeting Friday, a day after he told a media briefing he would “bet my life” on the claim that weapons had been loaded onto a Russian cargo ship, the Lady R, at Cape Town in December.
The US is “confident that weapons were loaded into that vessel,” Brigety said. The direct accusation was decidedly blunt for a US government representative looking to maintain relations with a key partner, and amounted to a breach of diplomatic protocol at the very least. “If any crimes were committed, the law will take its course,” said Pandor’s spokesman, Clayson Monyela.The inquiry ordered by Ramaphosa will consider whether South Africa’s defence department was “misled by officials” about the contents of the Russian vessel, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said by phone.
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