The Minister of Defense of South Africa stated that there is no need to investigate possible arms deliveries to Russia via the “Lady R” ship

The Minister of Defense of South Africa Thandi Modise stated that there was no need for a commission that was going to investigate possible arms deliveries to Russia through the ship “Lady R”.

This is reported by the South African publication Eyewitness News.

The Minister answered the questions of the MPs within the peace and security group, where she was again questioned about the mooring of the Russian ship. Modise stated that in December 2022, weapons were not loaded onto the ship, but weapons that South Africa ordered back in 2018 were shipped.

"We didnʼt do anything wrong. We ordered and received the batch," the Minister of Defense noted. She added that there is no need for the investigation initiated by the president.

"We donʼt need a judicial commission of inquiry to tell us what we know or what we donʼt know," Modise added.

• Back in December 2022, members of the South African parliament suspected the country of selling weapons to Russia. Then in the evening in the port of Simonstown, a cargo vehicle and container ship “Lady R” were spotted under the Russian flag. Witnesses saw the vessel unloading and then taking in cargo during one of the countryʼs regular power outages. Here is Lady Rʼs itinerary.
• In May 2023, the US accused South Africa of supplying ammunition to Russia through the ship “Lady R”. President Cyril Ramaphosa created an independent commission to investigate possible arms supplies to Russia.