South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s coalition government is facing turmoil over plans to grant visa-free access to Ukrainian diplomats and government officials.
On Sunday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, who is from a different political party than the president, announced the initiative, referring to Ukraine as a “valued ally.” However, the Presidency clarified that Schreiber acted prematurely, as the announcement had not yet received official approval from Ramaphosa.
The African National Congress (ANC), Ramaphosa’s party, and Schreiber’s party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), have conflicting views on South Africa’s relationship with Russia. DA leader John Steenhuisen has publicly criticized Ramaphosa for referring to Vladimir Putin as a “valuable ally and friend” at the recent BRICS summit, while the DA has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for the president, stated that Ramaphosa’s endorsement of Russia does not imply opposition to any other nation. “South Africa has also been unwavering in advocating for a peace process [between Moscow and Kyiv] that includes the full participation of both countries,” he explained.
While South Africa maintains a policy of non-alignment, the ANC has longstanding historical ties with Russia. On Monday, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola met with his Ukrainian counterpart, indicating that the visa agreement between the two countries is still under discussion.