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While the ANC’s Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, will join a Vladimir Putin-organised meeting of tyrants in Moscow to promote despotism and oppression, the Democratic Alliance (DA) will participate at the Munich Security Conference in Germany.

The DA's participation in this important global event forms part of our international outreach efforts to promote South Africa's domestic interests. Standing firm on our Constitutional values, the DA will join global leaders in Munich in working to advance justice, freedom, and democracy throughout the world.

From February 16 to February 18, 2024, the Munich Security Conference will bring together a cross-section of high profile delegates comprising global leaders, representatives from international organizations, media, academia, and civil society. The conference is an international platform for global discussions on security policy, a rules-based international order, democracy, and freedom.

In contrast, Mbalula will lead an ANC delegation to attend a conference in Moscow - hosted by Putin’s government, which will bring together some of the world’s worst tyrannical regimes. Convened under a dubious moniker, “Forum of supporters of the struggles against modern practices of neocolonialism – for the freedom of nations”, the conference will welcome party representatives from Zimbabwe, Venezuela, Syria, and Cuba among others.

This stark constrast in priorities confirms beyond any doubt that between South Africa’s two largest parties, the DA remains the country’s proud defender of Constitutionalism and democracy while the ANC has degenerated into an ally for tyranny and oppression.

The DA will use our participation at the Munich Security Conference to continue to build relations with our largest trade and investment partners, whilst pushing back against Moscow's doctrine of war and chaos. A doctine now openly welcomed by the ANC.

Issued by Emma Louise Powell MP - DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation