US ambassador admitted he ‘crossed the line’ and ‘apologised unreservedly’ – Dirco

Spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) Clayson Monyela says US ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety has apologised for his comments.

This after on Thursday saying he would “bet my life” on the ‘fact’ that South Africa had provided ammunition to Russia in December.

The ambassador claimed Russian vessel Lady R docked at the Simon’s Town naval base in Cape Town and received the weapons from the South African government.

The South African government denied the claims on Friday, after announcing it would establish an independent inquiry to investigate the allegations.

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“There is no official authorisation for weapons to be sold to Russia and Ukraine. Whether weapons were loaded or not; that’s another matter. There is no authorisation, and if the weapons were loaded in the vessel, the inquiry will determine that,” Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni told Radio 702 on Friday.

US ambassador apologised

Following a meeting between Brigety and the South African government on Friday, Monyela said the ambassador admitted to “crossing the line” on the matter.

“Dirco finds this behaviour by the US ambassador to South Africa puzzling and at odds with the mutually beneficial and cordial relationship that exists between the United States of America and South Africa.

“We conveyed our displeasure with his conduct and he admitted that he crossed the line and apologised unreservedly,” said Monyela.

“The relations between the USA and South Africa are cordial, strong and mutually beneficial. We reaffirmed our commitment to continue to work together for the benefit of the people of the two countries.”

Diplomatic channels

Monyela said the two countries further committed to using established diplomatic channels to raise any issues that may arise in the management of the bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Minister Naledi Pandor also spoke to her counterpart, Secretary 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.

“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,” said Monyela.

However, South Africans have called on the ambassador to make his apology the same way he made the claims.

The US ambassador’s claims have been highly criticised by South Africans and political parties alike, with ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula saying the ruling party was “taken aback by the comments of the US ambassador. We are a decent organisation which is governed by decorum”.

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Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema also dismissed the ambassador’s claims, saying South Africa did not have the capability to supply weapons to Russia.

“The American concerns are misplaced; the current government [in SA] has got no capacity to empower Russians with weapons against their own handlers.

“The concerns of America in relation to South Africa’s posture in the war between Russia and Ukraine is unfounded,” he said on Thursday.