The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has strongly opposed reports that President Cyril Ramaphosa invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit South Africa, calling the move “misguided” and a departure from the country’s non-aligned foreign policy.
In a sharply worded statement on X, MK Party Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu criticized the decision, referring to Zelenskyy as a “puppet president of Ukraine” and accusing Ramaphosa of siding with “European and Western imperialist interests.”
“We strongly condemn Cyril Ramaphosa’s misguided decision to invite Zelenskyy, the puppet president of Ukraine. The MK Party sees this as a clear alignment with European and Western imperialist agendas,” Shivambu wrote.
The party has vowed to formally oppose any state visit by Zelenskyy, threatening protests if he comes to South Africa.
“The MK Party will officially reject any visit by Zelenskyy and will mobilize against his presence in the country. We do not want him here because he acts as a puppet of the West,” Shivambu declared.
His remarks drew mixed reactions online, with one X user commenting, “Floyd Shivambu is now like Jacob Zuma.”
The criticism highlights growing tensions among opposition groups over South Africa’s foreign policy, particularly its engagements with Western nations during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The MK Party, which has positioned itself as anti-imperialist, argues that Ramaphosa’s approach undermines South Africa’s historical commitment to sovereignty and solidarity with the Global South.
The Presidency has not yet responded to the MK Party’s statement or confirmed whether Zelenskyy’s visit is planned.