The DA protested outside the South African High Commission in London during President Cyril Ramaphosa’s visit to the city on Monday.
DA Abroad Leader Gordon McKay said the protest was held to show solidarity with South Africans who oppose the Russia-Ukraine War.
“This war is making life harder for South Africans and the South African economy as it impacts inflation, security and our standing in the world. The President should be focusing on the economy and fix load-shedding, the greylisting threat, and the continued corruption and wasteful expenditure that damages the economy,” McKay said.
He added that the DA aimed to raise awareness and concerns around the ANC’s “implicit support” of the Ukraine war, which was increasing fuel and food prices in the country and affecting vulnerable, ordinary people. He said the government’s stance had risked the country’s international relationship with its powerful trade partners and could jeopardise trade and tariff agreements in the future “due to embarrassing UN votes, referendum election observations and…military training exercises”.
“We stand in solidarity with 74% of our fellow South Africans who believe that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine should be condemned. As South Africa enters increased load-shedding yet again, President Ramaphosa is having tea with the King, while South Africans can’t even switch on a kettle,” McKay said.
