Former South African president Jacob Zuma has defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, claiming that President Vladimir Putin felt provoked and was justified in his response to invade Ukraine to stop it from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Zuma said on Monday that Russia and Ukraine could have solved their issues amicably had it not been for the interference of Western powers.
“I am certain that His Excellency the President Vladimir Putin will reciprocate and will bring in all his power to make peace a reality as I know him to be a man of peace who has worked hard to ensure peace and stability,” Zuma said.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela described Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as a flagrant violation of human rights – and would not condone it despite Moscow’s help to the country’s liberation movement during the fight against apartheid.
Instead, the former ombudsman applauded global leaders for “setting a great example in their condemnation of Russia’s Ukraine invasion in violation of international law, and its massacre and dislocation of civilians in violation of humanitarian law treaties.”
“This precedent will, forthwith, apply to all similar violations,” she said, adding that she stood with the Ukrainian people by choosing “not to support the slaughter of civilians.”
Madonsela weighed in on a social media post by the Russian embassy in South Africa, expressing its gratitude for “a great number of letters of solidarity from South Africans.”
“I am grateful that the Soviet Union supported our anti-apartheid struggle – and Russia’s generosity in this regard – but I choose not to support Russia’s Ukraine invasion and the slaughter of civilians as that is an unconscionable international law violation,” Madonsela said.
She added: “As long as there is injustice somewhere, there can’t be sustainable peace anywhere. Accordingly I stand with Ukrainians.”
NM/jn/APA