South Africa’s pact with Russia – and its actions – cast doubt on its claims of non-alignment

President Vladimir Putin, left, and President Cyril Ramaphosa in Sochi, Russia, in 2019. Sergei Chirikov/Pool/AFP via Getty Images.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 South Africa has proclaimed a policy of non-alignment in that conflict. This position was placed in doubt when US Ambassador Ruben Brigety claimed recently that he had evidence that South African arms and ammunition were loaded on a Russian ship in December 2022.

Brigety concluded that South Africa’s alleged behaviour did