South Africa hits back at US accusations of arms shipment to Russia.

According to Reuters, Mondli Gungubele, Communications Minister, who chaired the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) when the alleged arms shipment to Russia took place, stated that if there were indeed cases of loading weapons onto a ship destined for Russia, it was illegal.

"We didn't approve any arms to Russia, ... it wasn't sanctioned or approved by us," he said.

Clayson Monyela, a spokesman for South Africa's Department of international relations and cooperation (DIRCO), wrote on Twitter that his department would speak to US Ambassador Reuben Brigety over his remarks and that Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor would talk to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken later in the day.

US ambassador to South Africa, Ruben Brigety, stated that the country likely transferred weapons and ammunition to Russia (Ukr) for the war in Ukraine. This shipment departed on a ship that was loaded in early December 2022.

The office of the President of South Africa later stated that they had not yet seen any evidence (Ukr) of possible arms shipments to Russia, but would conduct an appropriate investigation.