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12/05/2023 07:06:24
.Image: Lady R (Yörük Işık / Twitter)
Just tell us what was on the Russian shipOur government’s lack of transparency on allegations of armament supplies to Russia, a country that is in a war of aggression against Ukraine, has brought South Africa very close to a chain of events that will spark significant economic hardship for our nation.
The inexplicable lack of transparency and information about what was loaded onto the Russian ship Lady R which docked in Simonstown for a few days in December 2022 is extremely concerning not only to South Africa’s largest trading partners, but also to millions of citizens who care about our position on the Russia-Ukraine war. The activities currently unfolding, including the recent landing of a Russian military aircraft at the Waterkloof air force base, send a clear signal that the ruling party is somehow dependent on Russian favours and is prepared to compromise the state.
“These issues are already having a negative impact on the current exchange rates, with the potential for significant negative economic repercussions for South Africa. What we find unacceptable is government’s response to introduce an independent inquiry into whether armaments and ammunition were loaded into the Russian ship or not,” says Wayne Duvenage, OUTA CEO. “As citizens, we have the right to know what our government supplies to foreign countries. There is no need for an inquiry at this stage, instead we want absolute transparency to South African citizens and the world on this matter.
“This is not rocket science and the authorities just need to tell us if anyone in government authorised the loading and supply of whatever it was onto the Lady R and, if so, whether the inventory included armaments and/or ammunition.”
The South African government owes its citizens nothing less than the truth on this matter, so that we can get on with easing the tensions rising between us and our biggest trading partners and save our country from any further embarrassment and possible negative trade impacts that will be devastating to the country.
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A soundclip with comment by OUTA CEO Wayne Duvenage is here.
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