South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), has come under fire for its alliance with Russia. However, the party’s head of elections, Fikile Mbalula, has defended the alliance, stating that the ANC will not apologise for it. Mbalula also expressed support for the new world order, which he believes will be shaped by emerging powers such as Russia and China.
Mbalula’s comments come at a time when tensions between Russia and Ukraine are at an all-time high. The two countries have been at loggerheads since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea. The conflict has since escalated, with both sides accusing each other of aggression.
Mbalula said that the ANC’s position on the conflict was one of non-alignment. He argued that South Africa could not take sides in the conflict, as it did not know what the American interest in the war was. He also said that the ANC had explained its position to delegates from Denmark and the Netherlands, who were attending the SA-Denmark-Netherlands Business Forum.
“We are not opportunistic. We are not convenient about our position. We are principled comrades. You must stand for what you believe in,” Mbalula said.
Mbalula also said that the conflict in Ukraine was blocking Black Sea economic cooperation, which was essential for grain and gas trade. He argued that the conflict would not end unless dialogue was promoted between Russia and Ukraine.
Mbalula’s comments have been met with criticism from some quarters. The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa’s main opposition party, accused the ANC of being “out of touch” with reality. The DA’s spokesperson on international relations, Darren Bergman, said that the ANC’s position on the conflict was “naive and dangerous”.
“South Africa should be standing with the international community in condemning Russia’s aggression towards Ukraine. Instead, the ANC is choosing to align itself with a country that is violating international law,” Bergman said.
However, Mbalula’s comments have also been supported by some. The South African Communist Party (SACP) said that it agreed with the ANC’s non-aligned position. The SACP’s spokesperson, Alex Mashilo, said that the party believed in “peaceful coexistence” between nations.
“We support the ANC’s position on the conflict in Ukraine. We believe that South Africa should not take sides in the conflict, but should instead promote dialogue between the two countries,” Mashilo said.
Fikile Mbalula’s comments on the ANC’s alliance with Russia and its non-aligned position on the conflict in Ukraine have sparked debate and criticism. While some have accused the ANC of being out of touch with reality, others have supported the party’s stance on promoting dialogue and peaceful coexistence between nations. It remains to be seen how the ANC’s position on the conflict will affect South Africa’s relations with other countries, but it is clear that the party is standing by its principles and beliefs.
