For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: Russian embassy hits back at US ambassador's claims, saying ammunition unsuitable for its arms; Govt says UN head supports Africa’s Russia-Ukraine peace mission; And, ANC says political parties must reverse cultures of racial denialism

 

Russian embassy hits back at US ambassador's claims, saying ammunition unsuitable for its arms

The Russian embassy in South Africa has hit back at claims by US Ambassador Reuben Brigety that South Africa loaded ammunition onto a Russian ship last year.

This after Defence Minister Thandi Modise criticised the narrative that South Africa had chosen sides in the Russia-Ukraine war.

The Russian embassy said Brigety's claims came as no surprise as the "US seems to have lost its ability to interact with partners on an equal basis”. The Embassy said the US could not "punish" South Africa for being "non-aligned".

Hitting back at Brigety, the Russian embassy said the weapons allegedly sent to Russia did not match "neither the types nor the calibres of the systems currently in service with Russia's armed forces".

The embassy questioned the impact of a "minuscule" number of firearms and ammunition allegedly distributed by South Africa in the conflict. 

 

Govt says UN head supports Africa’s Russia-Ukraine peace mission

Following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement of a peace mission by African heads of State aimed at resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the South African government has said the mission is supported by United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres.

The South African government is calling for urgent international collaboration for a cessation of hostilities and to prevent further loss of life and the displacement of civilians in Ukraine.

South Africa says the international community, working together with multilateral bodies such as the UN, needs to support meaningful dialogue for peace, and the security and stability of all nations.

Ramaphosa said the peace mission was presented to Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during separate telephone calls on behalf of African Heads of State from Zambia, Senegal, Congo, Uganda, Egypt and South Africa.

 

And, ANC says political parties must reverse cultures of racial denialism

The African National Congress said that it has always been consistent in its pursuit of a non-racial and a just society, and is hitting back against political parties for using race politics as a means of fear mongering.

This after Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said the ANC was using the draft Employment Equity Act regulations as an attempt to exert State control, deepen social divisions and ban certain communities from employment in particular sectors of the economy.

The DA says the regulations in the Act set out racial employment quotas across various sectors of the economy and the party is concerned that the amended legislation could be manipulated to hire “connected ANC cadres”.

Steenhuisen pointed out the debilitating effects the legislation would have on the economy and on specific racial groups including members of the Indian and Coloured communities.

The ANC said it has noted “propaganda” by the DA that the ruling party is advancing crude race politics through the promotion of new race laws.

The ANC said it was time that “political parties across the right wing spectrum” desist from using race politics as a means of fear mongering, and must, instead, reverse cultures of racial denialism.

 

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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