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By Mogomotsi Magome

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JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africa’s unity government has been rocked by a row between its main political parties, the African National Congress and the Democratic Alliance, over a deal to grant visa-free access to Ukrainians holders of diplomatic, official and service passports.

The deal was announced by Leon Schreiber, the Democratic Alliance interior minister, but was disavowed by President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson and his African National Congress.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said on Tuesday that Ramaphosa would not sign the deal despite Schreiber’s announcement last weekend.

Cracks within the National Unity Government were also evident last week when Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen, who is also a Cabinet minister, dismissed statements made by Ramaphosa at the BRICS summit in Russia, where he told Russian President Vladimir Putin that Russia was a valuable country. ally of South Africa.

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Steenhuisen soon after issued a statement rejecting the comments.

“The Democratic Alliance (DA) distances itself from recent comments made by President Ramaphosa during bilateral engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he said ‘Russia is a valued ally and friend’ . The Democratic Alliance, as a key partner of the Government of National Unity (GNU), unequivocally rejects this characterization. The Democratic Alliance does not consider Russia, nor Vladimir Putin, to be an ally of our nation,” Steenhuisen said.

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya responded with a statement saying the president is responsible for the country’s foreign policy and would implement it without pressure from the Democratic Alliance.

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“In doing so, South Africa has also maintained its strong historical ties with the Russian Federation, while maintaining cordial bilateral diplomatic relations with Ukraine. South Africa has also advocated tirelessly for a peace process that includes the full participation of both countries,” Magwenya said.

The disagreements are the latest between the main parties in South Africa’s national unity government, formed after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary majority in elections earlier this year, in which it received around 40 votes. % of total votes, worst ever. electoral performance.

The ANC, which has governed since the country held its first democratic elections in 1994, later formed a unity government with the Democratic Alliance, then the official opposition, and other smaller parties.

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However, party divisions have become evident since Ramaphosa appointed a government including ministers from the former opposition party.

South Africa has officially adopted a non-alignment stance on the war between Russia and Ukraine and called for dialogue to end the conflict, while continuing to maintain diplomatic relations with both countries.

It is also part of the BRICS bloc of emerging economies, which includes Russia and China, and recently held a summit in the Russian city of Karzan.

The Democratic Alliance, however, has condemned Russia and openly supported Ukraine, with Steenhuisen visiting that country in 2022.

In September, the two parties clashed over an education bill that gives the government power to determine language and school admissions policies, with the education minister, who is a leader of the Democratic Alliance, boycotting the ceremony during which Ramaphosa signed the law.

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AP Africa News: https://apnews.com/hub/africa

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