Seven Russian companies exporting heavy machinery took part in a two-day business mission to SA to “find the best opportunities for co-operation and implementation of South African projects in various fields”.
One of the organisers, Marina Schmatova said, in the Telegram channel where the gathering was organised, that the organisers would seek the help of government officials for this.
Schmatova works for the Africa Development Management Group and is a member of the board of directors of Seadif, which finances development projects in southern and eastern Africa.
She recently moved from Luxembourg to Dubai after Western sanctions against Russian companies necessitated a move.
It is not clear to what extent government officials got involved in the event.
Social development minister Lindiwe Zulu, who also heads the ANC’s committee on international relations, earlier this week confirmed that she would be at the event, but attendees on Wednesday said she did not attend.
Zulu did not respond to queries on this, but on Monday at an ANC briefing she expressed concern that sanctions against Russian companies could be extended to those countries and companies who trade and maintain ties with Russia.
Trade, industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel was also on the programme but did not plan to attend because the event coincided with a conference organised by his department.
Russia’s ambassador to SA, Ilya Rogachev, likewise failed to attend the meeting after saying he would.
His office said he would be unable to respond to questions on the meeting before the end of the mission.
The Russian companies included agricultural equipment exporters JSC Peterburgsky Traktorny Zavod, Salskselmash, and Texha; Uralmash Oil and Gas Equipment Holding, which manufactures drilling rigs; Eco-spectrum, which manufactures waste management equipment; Gran Garo, which makes plastic recycling machines and wastewater treatment plants; and IRZ, an electronics manufacturer.
These companies have an export turnover ranging from $1m to $62m, according to their company profiles.
On the SA side, attendees included Balaam Buziba, CEO of BNB Consulting Engineers. The speakers on the programme included Barend Hendricks, director of Theza Oil & Gas Exploration/PetroSA; Trevor Dudley, director of Mozweli Nuclear Engineering; and Eric Zwane, manager of the National Empowerment Fund.
Members of the Ukrainian Association of SA protested outside the Holiday Inn in Sandton on both days of the meeting.
Inna Coetzee, a wellness practitioner in Johannesburg, left Odesa two decades ago but still has family members and friends in Ukraine. “By making business with Russia you are making business with terrorism and you are fuelling the machine of war,” she said.
Business Day attempted to speak to Schmatova on the sidelines of the gathering this week, which was closed to journalists, but her assistant refused to allow interviews.
Schmatova’s investment fund is a partner to the Russia Export Center, the event’s organiser.
She posted on LinkedIn this week that she wants to continue the investment fund’s development work in Africa, including in renewable energy, green energy and waste recycling.
In Mozambique, where she has been doing most of her work in Africa thus far, the fund has restructured waste processing projects and switched “from European equipment to Russian”.
“Everything has become much more interesting and easier and more opportunities,” she wrote.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.