- President Cyril Ramaphosa is on a state visit to the UK.
- Ramaphosa arrived in the UK on Monday and is expected to meet King Charles III and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
- The DA protested the President’s visit to London because of SA neutral position regarding the war in Ukraine.
The DA has protested President Cyril Ramaphosa’s state visit to the United Kingdom, citing concerns about the war in Ukraine and load shedding.
On Tuesday, the DA picketed outside the offices of the South African High Commission in London to protest Ramaphosa’s visit.
The president arrived in Great Britain on Monday at the state invitation of King Charles III. During the visit, the President has a number of political meetings, including talks with Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Ramaphosa is the first president to be received by the king since he ascended the throne earlier this year.
DA overseas chief Gordon Mackay said the DA’s picket was to show solidarity with Ukraine as the effects of the Russian invasion of the country intensify.
McKay said Ramaphosa had to consider the impact of the war on Ukraine and South Africa, with rising food and petrol inflation.
South Africa has taken a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, a political view that the DA believes is damaging to South Africa’s international standing.
READ | King and PM: Ramaphosa to meet Rishi Sunak as he accepts Charles III’s invitation
“The protest was held as a sign of solidarity with South Africans who oppose the Russian-Ukrainian war. This war makes life difficult for South Africans and the South African economy as it affects inflation, security and our position in the world.
“The DA is raising awareness and concern about the ANC’s tacit support for the war in Ukraine, which is directly increasing fuel and food prices in South Africa, affecting vulnerable ordinary South Africans the most, and threatens our international relations with powerful trading partners that could jeopardize trade and tariff agreements in the future because of awkward UN votes, referendum election observation and late military exercises,” McKay said.
He accused Ramaphosa of “gallivanting” around the world instead of tackling load shedding at home.
“As load shedding rises again in South Africa, President Ramaphosa is having tea with the King and South Africans can’t turn on the kettle. Instead, President Ramaphosa should be in South Africa to focus on solving these problems affecting vulnerable South Africans, as these problems will not be solved by a President Ramaphosa roaming the world.”
King Charles is expected to host the president on Tuesday. He will speak at a joint session of the Houses of Parliament. Negotiations with Sunak were expected to take place on Wednesday.
Ramaphosa is accompanied by a high delegation of ministers including; Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande, Health Minister Joe Faahla and Trade and Industry Minister Ebrahim Patel.
