South Africa: Cracks appear in coalition government over Ukraine visa deal

The announcement of a visa free deal between Ukrane and South Africa without presidential authorisation has exposed the long perceived division within the country’s coalition government.

The controversial agreement to grant Ukrainian diplomats visa-free access to South Africa has faced backlash from mainly black governed political parties who see the agreement as a ploy to destroy the cordial relationship between South Africa and Russia.

South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, who is from Democratic Alliance (DA), an opposition party to the president Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC), announced the deal on Sunday, terming Ukraine a “valued ally”.

Outraged by the announcement, President Ramaphosa has criticised Schreiber for stepping out of line by announcing the agreement without formal authorisation from the presidency.

The DA welcomed the announcement by Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, that the Republic of South Africa intends to grant visa-free access to the country for Ukrainian holders of diplomatic, official, and service passports.

The ANC has sharply differed with the DA, its largest coalition partner, over the country’s relationship with Russia.

The ANC, which has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid three decades ago, lost its majority in May’s general election, forcing it into a deal with other political parties.

Recently, Ramaphosa angered the DA by calling Russia a “valued friend” during the Brics summit in Kazan.

The DA has previously criticised Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. “I have signed an historic agreement granting visa-free access to our country for Ukrainian holders of diplomatic, official and service passports – and vice versa,” Schreiber posted on X.

The minister defended the decision, highlighting Ukraine’s support of South Africa during its struggle against apartheid. But the presidency hit back and said that Schreiber’s announcement was premature since he had no authorisation from the president.

“It is unclear how the minister can announce the signature of an international agreement without prior formal authorisation to do so,” Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya responded on X.

On Monday, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola hosted his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha and said the agreement is yet to be concluded and signed.

“Once all the diplomatic processes have been concluded, the agreement will be signed and we will announce once all those processes have been followed,” Lamola added.

The spokesperson for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) , which is not part of the coalition government, Leigh-Ann Mathys, condemned the deal as a “betrayal” of South Africa’s solidarity with Russia.

Former President Jacob Zuma’s fledgling opposition party – uMhkonto weSizwe (MK) has also urged Ramaphosa not to sign the agreement.

“The agreement with Ukraine is aimed at facilitating an influx and quasi-evacuation of defeated right-wing Ukrainians to South Africa by the racist pro-white imperialist DA,” MK party spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela told local media.

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