The visa waiver agreement between SA and Ukraine to allow for ease of travel for diplomats and government officials between the two countries has been deferred to allow for more consultations.
This contradicts what was announced by home affairs minister Leon Schreiber, in yet another public quarrel between two cabinet ministers in the government of national unity (GNU).
The GNU partners have previously clashed over other policy matters such as the National Health Insurance Act and Basic Education Laws Amendment Act which the DA, the second-largest party behind the ANC in the coalition government, opposes.
Schreiber, through his social media pages, had announced he had signed the agreement, adding that Ukraine was a valued ally and friend to SA.
This was an apparent reaction to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s remarks last week in a bilateral meeting with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in which the president reaffirmed SA’s relations with Russia, drawing the ire of the DA.
The presidency has accused Schreiber of being dishonest about the visa agreement because Ramaphosa has not yet formalised it.
“The president is yet to sign the minute authorising the minister to sign the agreement with Ukraine. It is unclear how the minister can announce signature of an international agreement without prior formal authorisation to do so. The negotiations with Ukraine on the visa waiver for diplomatic or official passports started in 2020,” said Vincent Magwenya, the president’s spokesperson.
International relations and co-operation minister Ronald Lamola and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha were scheduled to sign the agreement on Monday but were unable to because of pending negotiations.
Schreiber was notably absent from the meeting after his social media announcement. Business Day understands that he was in Cape Town ahead of the presentation of Wednesday’s medium-term budget policy statement.
“All the officials between the two departments, including the department of home affairs, have agreed in terms of the texts [of the agreement],” Lamola said on Monday after a meeting with Sybiha in Pretoria.
“We are committed to continue with that process, that was started in 2020 negotiations, to have gone through, and in this period we believe it’s now right for the conclusion. Once that process is concluded we will announce it.”
The signing of the visa-free agreement comes ahead of the second Ukraine peace summit, scheduled for November, where Kyiv is expected to present its final peace plan to end its war with Russia.
During a media briefing after the meeting between Lamola and Sybiha, both ministers expressed a desire to enhance trade and business ties, including visa liberalisation.
The discussion also touched on broader peace initiatives and humanitarian crises in Africa, particularly in Sudan and Mozambique, underscoring the importance of diplomatic engagement for lasting peace.
The Ukrainian minister condemned terrorism and emphasised the need for international law and collective support.
“We place high expectations on your strong leadership in addressing regional and global challenges, including Russian aggression against Ukraine. Russia’s brutal, full-scale attacks ruined world order based on international law, brought suffering and resources to Ukraine and caused a number of global crises in food energy security and other areas. This war is not only about Ukraine. It directly affects millions of people in Africa and other parts of the world,” Sybiha said.
“We hope that SA G20 [Group of 20] presidency will keep Ukraine in focus and help us bring peace and justice globally. I informed minister Lamola about the peace formula process and our logic of further steps. I thank SA for supporting the formula. We are now finalising thematic conferences on its 10 items, and we are working towards the second global peace summit, where we are ready to invite representatives of Russia.”
In reply, Lamola said: “We deliberated on constraints to fragile international security, including, but not limited to, the current wars and it gives me great pleasure and honour to learn that Ukraine wants peace as soon as possible.
“Most importantly, you are willing and ready to engage with Russia ... as suggested by SA, because we believe in this conflict it’s important that the warring factions are able to meet at the table.”
Update: October 8 2024
This story has been updated with new developments.
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