DA leader John Steenhuisen President Cyril Ramaphosa load shedding

DA leader John Steenhuisen at the Debate on 2022 State Of The Nation (SONA) at Cape Town City Hall on February 14, 2022 in Cape Town – Photo by Gallo Images / Jeffrey Abrahams

Cash from Oligarchs ‘influencing ANC stance on Russia’, says Steenhuisen

John Steenhuisen believes that the ANC have been ‘whipped into backing Russia’ – thanks largely to the money flowing their way from Moscow…

DA leader John Steenhuisen President Cyril Ramaphosa load shedding

DA leader John Steenhuisen at the Debate on 2022 State Of The Nation (SONA) at Cape Town City Hall on February 14, 2022 in Cape Town – Photo by Gallo Images / Jeffrey Abrahams

Say what you really mean though, would you? DA leader John Steenhuisen has delivered another blistering speech, after he took part in the Parliamentary debate on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The opposition frontman condemned the ANC for expressing its ‘neutrality’ in the situation – but he didn’t stop there

John Steenhuisen blasts ANC during Russia debate

Steenhuisen poured scorn on the ANC, two weeks after it abstained from a vote to condemn Russia for its actions at the UN. The DA have comprehensively rejected the diplomatic position of South Africa, and they are extending their support to Ukrainian politicians currently based in South Africa.

  • The ruling party now stands accused of ‘standing on the wrong side of history’:

“Under a shameful veneer of ‘neutrality’ the ANC has effectively pledged its tacit support for Putin’s imperial march to restore his lost empire. When ANC ministers attend a cocktail function glorifying the Russian military on the day of the invasion, you don’t have to read between the lines.”

“To the astonishment of the world, the same ANC that once relied on global solidarity in its fight against oppression has now openly sided with the oppressor. It has picked the wrong side of history, and it has dragged 60 million South Africans along with it. Surely Russia’s recent actions have cancelled out any historical goodwill.”

John Steenhuisen

ANC accused of pocketing cash from Putin-backed donors

Indeed, Mr. Steenhuisen isn’t convinced that the ANC have pure intentions in this matter. President Ramaphosa has expressed his desire to remain neutral on the situation, talking up South Africa’s chances of acting as a mediator between the two warring states – but is this a position influenced by Russian cash?

Steenhuisen links ANC views to Russia’s money-men

Last year, the ANC received a much-needed R5 million boost from a mining company partly owned by billionaire Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. And yes, he does have some extremely close ties to Vladimir Putin.

During the last national election in 2019, a businessman nicknamed ‘Putin’s Chef’ was also involved in a disinformation campaign to BENEFIT the ANC. As far as Steenhuisen is concerned, these factors are too big to ignore when it comes to considering the government’s views on Russia…

“A businessman close to Putin tried to run a disinformation campaign for the ANC in the 2019 election. The ANC’s biggest donor last year was a Putin-aligned oligarch. Connect these dots and the full picture of the ANC’s support for Russia begins to emerge. I urge President Ramaphosa to rethink the position his government has taken.”

“The ANC does not speak for South Africa on this, and it certainly does not speak for the DA. We condemn Russia’s illegal invasion in the strongest terms, and we stand firmly with the people of Ukraine.”

John Steenhuisen