Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen on Tuesday pleaded with President Cyril Ramaphosa to rethink South Africa’s position on Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Speaking during a debate in Parliament, Steenhuisen pointed out that the war would soon negatively affect the prices of oil, petrol, diesel, food and even Eskom’s current ability to keep the lights on.

He warned that rising food prices and inflation could result in larger riots than those seen in last July's unrest.

The DA leader accused the African National Congress (ANC) of pledging support to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“And I’m not only talking about the shameful abstention in the UN (United Nations) vote. When ANC Ministers attend a cocktail function glorifying the Russian military on the day of the invasion, you don’t have to read between the lines. When a lone call by Dirco (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) for Russia to withdraw its army is hastily retracted and the Minister admonished, you don’t have to read between the lines. And when our President calls Putin in the middle of his invasion, pledging to strengthen bilateral ties - as the rest of the world isolates him - you don’t have to read between the lines,” Steenhuisen said.

He said the ANC had chosen the wrong side of history, noting that the party could no longer use Russia’s support during South Africa’s liberation struggle as an excuse to side with an “oppressor”.

Steenhuisen pointed out that it was the Soviet Union, which included Ukraine, and not only Russia, that had supported South Africa during apartheid.

The economic ties between both countries could also not be used as an excuse for South Africa to support Russia, he said, citing that Russia was only South Africa’s thirty-eighth largest trading partner, and that it accounts for about half a percent of South Africa’s exports and imports.

The DA condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and reaffirmed solidarity with Ukrainians.

“Countries that choose the wrong side of history will live with that tag for generations. It shouldn’t be hard to do the right thing - to put country ahead of party. The ANC does not speak for South Africa on this, and it certainly does not speak for the DA. I urge President Ramaphosa to rethink the position his government has taken. Choose peace and condemn Russia,” Steenhuisen said.