Ukraine Visa Waiver Deal Furthers Growing Divisions in South Africa's Unity Government

The office of the presidency did not respond kindly to the agreement. Shortly over an hour after Schreiber’s statement, presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenyaresponded by saying the president was yet to sign the minutes that would give the minister authority to sign the agreement. “These legal requirements, set out in section 231 of the Constitution, are mandatory and were in the process of being fulfilled prior to tomorrow's signature,” Magwenya wrote.

However, the DA has stated its strong support of Schreiber’s statement. The party called it a “poignant” development that demonstrates South Africa’s solidarity with the people of Ukraine, adding that many South Africans in exile during the anti-apartheid struggle, benefitted from their resources and support.

“South Africa’s recognition of Ukraine and its right to sovereignty is a far better approach to addressing this invasion than the ANC’s open support of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his conquest of Russian empire which is a clear violation of international law,” continued the statement, effectively addressing Ramaphosa’s pronouncement on the eve of the BRICS summit last week that Russia is “a valued ally.”

During a meeting between South Africa’s international relations minister Ronald Lamola and his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, on Monday, the former confirmed that the waiver is in its final stages, stating that all that’s left is for it to complete some diplomatic processes. “The agreement has not been signed and once all the diplomatic processes have been concluded, the agreement will be signed,” Lamola said, effectively contradicting Schreiber’s proclamation that all is in order.

He however said that he and Schreiber (heads of the two departments involved), have agreed on the texts of the deal, adding that the process began with his predecessor Naledi Pandor, when the ANC was still the only party in power.

This is not the first time that the ANC and DA have clashed in the GNU. Earlier this month, the DA threatened to exit the coalition over the expulsion ofCilliers Brink as the mayor of Tshwane. In September, the two parties yet again threatened the GNU’s stability when they couldn’t agree on the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill. Magwenya has warned against these constant threats and said that it not only affects the president, but the stability of the GNU.

“The GNU must remain stable, must remain united, as it is called the GNU for the benefit of the country. It is not there for the benefit of any individual political leader. It has been formulated for the benefit of all South Africans,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has described Schreiber’s statement as “white supremacist arrogance,” reiterating Magwenya’s point that the minister should have followed protocol by consulting with the president and international relations minister. The EFF also expressed their hope for Ramaphosa to not sign the agreement, as it’ll compromise South Africa’s diplomatic relations with Russia and general standing in BRICS .

In their reaction, uMkonto weSizwe said that South Africa should “avoid intensification of any bilateral diplomatic relationship with Ukraine,” describing the current leadership of the Eastern European country as a Western project fighting a “proxy war” on behalf of the West.

It is unclear when the deal will be signed or if it’ll face any other roadblocks, but Lamola has also confirmed that Ukraine has also requested visa-free access (and vice versa) to ordinary passport holders.