Staff Reporter
A group of protesters shouted slogans outside the departyment of International Relations and Corperations ministry on Monday and called on governemnt to do everythig possible to avoid offering Ukraine military support.
The picket took place as Dirco Minister Ronnald Lamola was meeting his Ukranian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha for political consultations.
Kunta Modise, one of the protesting residents, said South Africa stands with Russia, and Ukrainians should not be allowed to drag South Africa into their issues and wars.
“We want Minister Lamola to understand that no amount of pressure from the West and United States including NATO will force our peaceful land SA into a war. South Africa stands with Russia, and this is a historical fact,” he said.
Although police attempted to disrupt the gathering, the protesters chanted songs and danced outside the DIRCO offices before heading to the Ukrainian embassy to stage a picket.
Some of the placards read: “South Africa does not need someone else’s war, don’t drag our country into your war, South Africa is for peace, Russia is our friend, Mandela, Putin, Victory, Ukraine wants a world war”.
Another protester Ellen Raletlape said it was important for the group of activists to wage a protest in order for the government to understand that South African weapons are not for Ukrainian aggression.
“Let us not use our weapons against our Russian friends. Africa is for Russia and we know that Ukraine is mainly funded by Western and American colonial powers,” she said.
INSIDE POLITICS
