Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ An independent panel in South Africa has dismissed claims made by the US ambassador, Reuben Brigety, that South Africa supplied arms to Russia in 2022. The panel found no evidence to substantiate these allegations, which had led to diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
The key findings of the panel’s report are as follows:
1. The goods delivered by the ship Lady R were equipment intended for the South African National Defense Forces (SANDF). These items had been ordered by Armscor (Armaments Corporation of South Africa SOC Ltd) and had been awaited since 2018. Delays in manufacturing, packaging, and delivery were attributed in part to the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.
2. The choice of the US-sanctioned ship Lady R for delivery was not made by the SANDF, Armscor, or AB Logistics. They had no control over the selection process or contractual arrangements related to the vessel.
3. The Lady R was redirected to the Simon’s Town naval base after shipping agents at the Ngqura-Port Elizabeth port refused to service the ship due to US sanctions. The SANDF, in collaboration with Armscor and the supplier, directed the ship to dock at Simonstown, where the equipment was offloaded.
4. The equipment was offloaded at night, under the cover of darkness, in line with standard practice for such equipment, mainly for security and confidentiality reasons. This occurred on the nights of December 7-8 and 8-9, 2022.
5. Details of the equipment offloaded and its intended use were classified. The panel accepted the reasons provided for the decision to offload the equipment at night, considering the nature and purpose of the equipment.
6. The equipment had not been properly containerized; it was packed in pallets. Containers were brought to the port empty, and the pallets were loaded into the containers on the dock, which were then loaded onto trucks. Some pallets remained on the quay during daylight and were offloaded again at night to prevent security risks.
7. Contrary to rumors, the panel found no evidence to substantiate claims of weapons or ammunition being loaded onto the Lady R. The available evidence confirmed only the offloading of equipment.
The panel conducted interviews with 47 individuals under oath or affirmation, received 23 written submissions containing over 100 documents, and inspected the scene at Simonstown. The independent panel, consisting of three members and chaired by Judge PMD Mojapelo, carried out the investigation.
While President Cyril Ramaphosa released the executive summary of the panel’s report, the full report will remain classified. The panel’s findings have led to calls for the US ambassador’s expulsion from various quarters, including the ANC-aligned South African Communist Party.
