The US ambassador in Pretoria, during a meeting with reporters, accused South Africa of providing military support to Russia, despite its neutrality in the war in Ukraine.

According to US Ambassador Reuben Brigetti, the United States is confident that “weapons and ammunition have been loaded” on a Russian ship that docked off Cape Town in early December “before sailing for Russia.”

A source present at the meeting confirmed the US ambassador’s statements to the French news agency AFP. But the US embassy, ​​contacted by AFP, was unwilling to either confirm or deny these claims.

“Among what we have pointed out is the parking of the Russian merchant ship Lady R.” in (port) Simon Town between December 6 and 8, 2022, which we are sure was loaded with weapons and ammunition (…), as it was being returned to Russia,” Brigetti said during the meeting, according to Reuters.

The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The mooring of a Russian dry cargo ship to the country’s largest naval base, Simon Town, sparked protests in South Africa on the eve of Christmas.

The main opposition party has asked the government to explain how a Russian cargo ship under Western sanctions was allowed to dock.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said today that his government will look into reports that his country has sent weapons to Russia.

“This issue is being considered, and in time we will be able to talk about it,” Ramaphosa told MPs.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP, Reuters.