US envoy says Russian ship picked up arms in South Africa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa replies to questions in parliament, regarding the electricity crisis, in Cape Town, South Africa, May 11, 2023. REUTERS/Esa Alexander

The United States envoy to South Africa said on Thursday he was confident that a Russian ship had picked up weapons in South Africa, in a possible breach of Pretoria's declared neutrality in the Ukraine conflict.

The rand and South Africa's 2030 government bond extended losses after the U.S statement as currency traders said they were worried that South Africa could now face Western sanctions.