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DA Slams Ramaphosa for Calling Russia an ‘Ally’ at BRICS Summit

As President Cyril Ramaphosa and BRICS leaders gather in Russia to promote economic development in the Global South, the Democratic Alliance (DA), a key stakeholder in the Government of National Unity (GNU), has reacted.

Ramaphosa and other BRICS leaders are in Kazan, Russia, for the 16th BRICS Summit.

On Wednesday, DA leader John Steenhuisen criticized Ramaphosa for referring to Russia as “a valuable ally and friend” during a meeting with President Vladimir Putin.

None of the DA’s Cabinet ministers are attending the 16th BRICS Summit.

Steenhuisen, the GNU’s Minister of Agriculture, remarked: “The Democratic Alliance distances itself from recent comments made by President Ramaphosa during bilateral engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he stated that Russia is a valuable ally and friend.”

Ramaphosa made the statements at the 16th BRICS Summit, which will take place in Kazan, Russia from October 22 to 24, 2024.

“We continue to see Russia as a valued ally, as a valued friend who supported us right from the beginning, from the days of our stuggle against apartheid,” Ramaphosa said.

Steenhuisen said the DA, as a key partner in the GNU rejects this characterisation in no uncertain terms.

“The Democratic Alliance does not consider Russia, or Vladimir Putin, to be an ally of our Nation,” the DA leader said.

Steenhuisen said that the DA cannot and will not agree that South African should consider an authoritarian regime, that is currently violating international law by waging an imperialist war of aggression against a sovereign state, as an ally.

“At a time when South Africa is experiencing renewed optimism with the first real prospects of economic growth in almost two decades, our government simply cannot afford to make statements that could jeopardise international relations and trade opportunities, which are crucial for realising our key objectives of growth and job creation,” Steenhuisen said.

“As Leader of the Democratic Alliance in the GNU, I reiterate the importance of positions expressed on behalf of the GNU being the subject to full and proper debate within the government mechanisms before being announced as positions of the GNU to ensure maximum consensus and agreement amongst the parties to the GNU.”

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