A contingent of Financial Freedom Fighters (EFF), MK Occasion, and SA Neighborhood Occasion representatives protested exterior the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Thursday.
Their protest was sparked by the official go to of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which they argue undermines South Africa’s credibility as a “voice for peace” on the worldwide stage.
President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted Zelenskyy in an official working go to to the nation, aimed toward strengthening the bilateral relations between the 2 nations.
Protesters chanted and marched across the space holding banners and placards studying “Zelenskyy is a USA puppet”, “Zelenskyy is a warmonger” and “We assist Russia”.
Police and Tshwane metro police patrolled the realm alongside the protests by each the EFF and MK.
Sadly, many couldn’t get solutions from anybody as Zelenskyy and Ramaphosa have been engaged in conferences.
A media briefing adopted to provide an replace on their engagements.
Zelenskyy needed to reduce quick his go to in response to a devastating in a single day missile and drone assault on Kyiv by Russian forces.
In mild of the protest, Zelensky left the Union Buildings in no more than 4 hours.
Main the crimson berets, provincial deputy chairperson, Phillip Makwala, stated Zelenskyy’s go to was a provocation for battle and in addition an insult to the nation’s democracy.
Makwala slammed Ramaphosa for internet hosting Zelenskyy, saying this was a sellout place. He stated this was additionally a betrayal transfer to the “peace-loving Russia”.
“We’re dissatisfied with Ramaphosa for him to permit Zelenskyy, a puppet of the West, a warmonger, and a assassin in our nation. His journey is a provocation,” he stated.
In line with Makwala, South Africa couldn’t be in a impartial place between Russia and Ukraine.
MK Occasion nationwide spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela stated Zelensky was a puppet of Western imperialist nations and couldn’t be allowed within the nation.
“We reject the presence of this puppet who has been used as an extension of NATO’s neoliberal imperialist agenda. We’re saying we are able to’t permit that in our nation – not in our identify,” Ndhlela stated.
In the meantime, the SACP additionally rejected Zelenskyy’s go to.
SACP common secretary, Solly Mapaila, may very well be heard in a video posted by IOL on X, saying “Zelenskyy doesn’t need to be in South Africa”.
“We’re recognising a person who has turned his nation right into a meat grinder, sending younger males into the frontline for one thing that he might have averted. He has misplaced legitimacy in Ukraine and world affairs.”
However Enterprise Unity South Africa (BUSA) has expressed sturdy assist for the go to of Zelenskyy within the nation.
kamogelo.moichela@iol.co.za
IOL Politics
