Africa-Press – South-Africa. Almost a month after making bombshell allegations that South Africa supplied arms and ammunition to Russia, US Ambassador Reuben Brigety has announced that he will again host local media, this time for a reception to celebrate his country’s independence.
This comes after International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor announced that no further steps will be taken against Brigety after he expressed his country’s concerns that South Africa provided weapons and ammunition to Russia.
In an invitation sent on Tuesday, Brigety invited the local media to a reception celebrating the 247th Independence Day of the US.
The celebrations will be held on Thursday, 29 June, at the US embassy in Pretoria.
By issuing the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on 4 July 1776, the 13 American colonies severed their political connections to Great Britain.
The reception will be the first media engagement that Brigety will host since the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) deĢmarched him in May for a meeting with Pandor.
At the time, a furious Pandor expressed South Africa’s deep disappointment and outrage about how Brigety had convened a press conference where he levelled allegations regarding the sale of ammunition by South Africa to Russia, via the US-sanctioned Russian naval vessel, Lady R.
In a written reply to EFF MP Sinawo Thambo on whether South Africa will take further action against Brigety following the claims, Pandor said it would not.
She, however, said the incident was distasteful, especially soon after the visit to Washington by the Special Envoys appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“The envoys were well received by all US interlocutors and discussions were productive. In this context, the press conference held by the US Ambassador was counter to the spirit of the engagement with senior officials and politicians in Washington, DC.
Pandor said:
Furthermore, Pandor said Ramaphosa’s office reiterated that no concrete evidence had been provided to support Brigety’s claims.
“An investigation had been initiated before the ambassador publicly announced his accusation. It was further indicated that the retired judge appointed to head the investigation would use any evidence US intelligence officials could provide over the alleged sale of ammunition,” she said.
Following her meeting with Brigety and the teleconference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Pandor said no further steps would be taken with regard to his removal.
During a subsequent meeting between the ANC and Brigety, he reiterated his apology, Pandor said.
For More News And Analysis About South-Africa Follow Africa-Press
