JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a panel to research US allegations {that a} Russian ship had collected weapons from a naval base close to Cape Town final 12 months, the presidency mentioned in an announcement on Sunday.
The US ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety mentioned on May 11 that he was assured {that a} Russian ship, which docked at a naval base in Simonstown within the Western Cape in December final 12 months, took aboard weapons from South Africa. An allegation South Africa has since denied.
The allegations have prompted a diplomatic row between the US, South Africa and Russia and referred to as into query South Africa’s non-aligned place on the Ukraine battle.
South Africa says it’s neutral and has abstained from voting on UN resolutions on the battle.
“The President decided to establish the enquiry because of the seriousness of the allegations, the extent of public interest and the impact of this matter on South Africa’s international relations,” mentioned the assertion.
The three-member panel will probably be chaired by Phineas Mojapelo, former deputy choose president of Gauteng province. The different two members are Advocate Leah Gcabashe, who was former proof chief for a state corruption inquiry that ended final 12 months, and Enver Surty, former deputy minister of fundamental training. It could have six weeks to conduct its investigation.
The phrases of reference for the panel embrace establishing who was conscious of the cargo ship’s arrival, the contents that have been loaded and off-loaded and “whether constitutional, legal or other obligations were complied with in relation to the cargo ship’s arrival.”
The president is anticipated to obtain a remaining report inside two weeks of the investigation concluding. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
