Inquiry rejects US claims that South Africa supplied arms to Russia

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An investigation in South Africa has rejected a US allegation that the country supplied weapons to a Russian ship under US sanctions that was docked at a Cape Town naval base, after the accusation imperilled ties between the US and Africa’s most industrial economy.

President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Sunday an inquiry “found that there was no evidence to support the claim that the ship transported weapons from South Africa destined for Russia” as alleged by the US ambassador to Pretoria this year.

“When all matters are considered, none of the allegations made about the supply of weapons to Russia have been proven to be true,” he said. “None of the persons who made these allegations could provide any evidence to support the claims.”

The Lady R, a vessel owned by Russia’s MG-FLOT, docked at the Simon’s Town base in mysterious circumstances in December, including appearing to switch off its transponder signal. South Africa’s defence ministry said at the time the ship had carried a delivery for the country’s armed forces.

Ambassador Reuben Brigety claimed in May that the US government was confident the vessel also “uploaded weapons and ammunition” in Cape Town on its way back to Russia, despite no official approval by South Africa’s government for arms exports to Russia or Ukraine since the war began.

The allegation unleashed a diplomatic storm for Ramaphosa’s government, which has said it is non-aligned over the war in Ukraine, and shook South Africa’s financial markets as trade ties connecting key South African export industries to the US suddenly fell in doubt.

“The allegations levelled against our country had a damaging effect on our currency, economy and our standing in the world,” Ramaphosa said on Sunday.

Brigety and the US government did not detail evidence for the accusation, but Ramaphosa’s government was also unable to deny it outright, leading to the appointment of an inquiry headed by a retired judge to investigate.

The claim came after rising frustration in Washington over South Africa’s ties to Russia, such as joint naval exercises on the anniversary of the war and what was seen as Pretoria’s equivocation in condemning the invasion.

But the Biden administration has since moved to smooth relations with the biggest US trading partner in Africa, one of a number of non-aligned nations that Washington has sought to lobby over the war in order to challenge Russia’s narrative of the conflict.

The US state department said on Sunday it appreciated “the seriousness” of the inquiry panel’s investigation into the Lady R. The state department added it had been “in direct communication” with Ramaphosa’s government and would continue the conversations through diplomatic channels.

“We appreciate President Ramaphosa’s commitment to investigating this serious matter and look forward to advancing progress with our South African partners on our shared priorities, including trade, health, and climate,” the state department said.

Ramaphosa has also sent ministers and advisers to Capitol Hill in an effort to stop trade preferences favouring South Africa’s access to US markets from being withdrawn. He has since played a greater role in African diplomacy over the war, making visits to Kyiv and Moscow.

Ramaphosa said on Sunday the inquiry into the Lady R confirmed that the vessel had supplied materiel to South Africa’s armed forces. The inquiry’s full report would not be published because of a need for military security over the delivery, but an executive summary would be released on Monday, he said.

The inquiry had visited the naval base, heard from almost 50 people and reviewed more than 100 documents, Ramaphosa said.

The US embassy in Pretoria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The US placed sanctions on MG-FLOT near the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, over what it said was the use of the company’s shipping to transport weapons for the Russian government.