The state visit of Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky in South Africa was unexpectedly pushed back by two weeks earlier this month. However, the Office of Presidency has now confirmed that the state visit of Zelensky in South Africa will kick off this week, on Thursday 24 April 2025. Even if the official agenda is yet to be released by Pretoria …
This secrecy is most likely deliberate in anticipation of opposition protests to Zelensky’s visit to South Africa. According to an IOL report, uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) is planning a protest. The Ukrainian leader was all over the world’s media following his televised argument with President Donald Trump.
UKRAINE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY IN SOUTH AFRICA
Furthermore, MK Party secretary general, Floyd Shivambu, called the Ukrainian leader a ‘puppet president.’ He’s referring to the North Atlantic Treaty of Organisation (NATO), which Shivambu says seeks to destabilise Eastern Europe through an unfair expansion.
In a briefing held in Sandton two-weeks’ back, Shivambu lamented President Ramaphosa’s invitation to host Zelensky in South Africa. “We strongly condemn the president’s misguided decision to extend an invitation to Zelensky in South Africa. He is a figure widely discredited among progressive and non-aligned nations and we will stage protests against the state visit.
Moreover, Shivambu says the MK Party views the invitation as a clear alignment with European imperial interests. “It’s an affront to South Africa’s historical position of non-alignment and anti-imperialism. Accordingly, we will protest the visit,” confirmed Shivambu.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, has confirmed that Zelensky’s visit to South Africa is a “continuation of ongoing engagements to find peace between Russia and Ukraine.”
COULD THIS VISIT DESTABALISE US-SA RELATIONS?
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