Poland has stopped the South African delegationon their peacekeeping mission to Russia and Ukraine. Journalists who travelled to Poland en route to Ukraine are stuck at Warsaw’s airport with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s protection unit.
Negotiations are currently underway between the SA and Polish governments. It appears as though the Polish government has finally let journalists off but with a condition that they had to unload the cargo to see what weapons SA is carrying. For the first time in more than 24 hours, the journalists are finally off the plane. “There is hope”, SundayTimes journalist, Amanda Khoza says. However, South Africans are not happy with the treatment. According to Amanda Khoza, a South African oofficialwas heard saying: “Let’s go we will deal with the issue of the bags later. They want us to fight but we told them that just because we are from Africa you can’t disrespect us.”
Because the Poland government didn’t bring the busses, the journalists have decided to walk to the terminals but they have been told that they are going to get arrested “if they don’t respect” the laws of a foreign country. The situation is tense and tempers are now running high!
In my opinion, once you step out of your own sovereign state, you play by the rules that are enforced globally. You either retaliate or retreat – this is war. There will be victors and causalities along the way. What South Africans are witnessing are the battle lines being drawn. I am of the opinion that President Cyril Ramaphosa should abort the mission. He is being held hostage until he negotiates and stops supporting Russia. This is not the crews battle but a diplomatic battle that should head to the UN and NATO. If it’s a declaration, so be it, we need to stay out, abort!
Because they didn't bring the busses we decided to walk to the terminals but we have been told that we are going to get arrested "if we don't respect" the laws of a foreign country. @SundayTimesZA pic.twitter.com/7bgWoEBDSZ
— Amanda Khoza-Dlamini – The Journalist (@MandaKhoza) June 16, 2023