‘Someone needs to speak for SA’: John Steenhuisen on his visit to Ukraine

Steenhuisen lashed out at the ruling party  at the ANC’s diplomatic stance on Russia, saying that their attempt to ‘remain neutral‘ in the face of this conflict ‘is not something that can carry on’.

He said if President Ramaphosa will not do this, and he has made it clear he will not, then it falls to me as the leader of the opposition, and a party which governs for some 20 million South Africans.

South Africa has abstained twice from voting against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Naledi Pandor has defended these decisions.

Steenhuisen said if President Ramaphosa will not do this, and he has made it clear he will not, then it falls to me as the leader of the opposition, and a party which governs for some 20 million South Africans.

“I will visit refugee camps, and meet various mayors, governors, business leaders, students and ordinary Ukrainian citizens to see first-hand the effects of the Russian invasion and the ongoing occupation of parts of Ukraine.”

“We owe it to the people of Ukraine to tell the unfiltered truth about what is taking place there so that the world can stand united in bringing this injustice to an end. We dare not pretend that this is a war that has nothing to do with us.”

John Steenhuisen’s first statement on his visit to Ukraine

Steenhuisen said Russia’s violent invasion of sovereign Ukraine is the biggest military mobilisation since World War Two.

“It has caused the biggest displacement of civilians – over 12 million people so far – since World War Two. Possibly, it represents the greatest threat of nuclear warfare since World War Two.

“It would be naïve to view this war as a regional threat. Make no mistake, the effects of this war are already reverberating across the globe and as usual, the poor will suffer most.”

John Steenhuisen