'War in Ukraine is not far away, we're already feeling the pinch'

Are you a friend of a useful idiot? This was the question posed to the ANC in the National Assembly on Tuesday as members debated Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

During the debate, the department of international relations and cooperation deputy minister, Mashego Dlamini, urged South Africans not to take sides between the warring East European countries.

Dlamini said SA’s foreign policy was guided by human rights, just and lasting solutions that could only be achieved through dialogue and mediation.

“No country is immune from this impact. It will have a huge impact on a global economy when we’re emerging from Covid-19 during a time when countries need space for recovery.

“SA is always appreciative of the potential dialogue has in averting conflict. SA urges all parties to resolve and engage in diplomacy and avert further escalation.

“SA urges all parties to approach the situation in a spirit of compromise and peaceful resolution.

“We urge all South Africans not to take sides as this could go against our principles,” Dlamini said.

SA recently made headlines when Sowetan's sister publication Sunday Times reported that the country's decision to abstain from voting on a UN General Assembly motion to reprimand Russia had upset Ukraine, the US and the EU.

Of the National Assembly's 193 members, 141 voted in favour of the resolution to censure Russia. Thirty-five members, including SA and China, abstained and five countries — Russia, Syria, Belarus, North Korea and Eritrea — voted against the resolution.

During the parliamentary debate, FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald said people should not fool themselves by thinking the war did not concern them.

“Certain bakeries have already announced sharp increases due to the wheat shortage. If you think it doesn’t concern you because it’s far away, then you’re deluding yourself.”

Turning his gaze to members of the ruling party, Groenewald said friends appreciated real criticism, referring to the ANC's close ties with Russia.

“ANC must ask itself... the fact they don’t want to condemn Russia in strongest terms, does Russia see you as a friend of useful idiot?” Groenewald questioned.

EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu said there was “absolutely” nothing wrong with the Russian Federation preventing the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) which was trying to expand its presence towards the Russian borders.

“Nato is known historically for starting and engaging in neocolonial wars that are aimed at illegal removing government and pillaging of natural resources,” he said.

Ukraine and Russia are the biggest exporters of sunflower seed oil in the world with almost 60% of the world's produce coming from them.

According to Southern Oil commercial director, Morne Botes, this will put more pressure on other vegetable oil producers in the world during a time where production yields have been low because of weather.

“The knock-on effect of the war between Russia and Ukraine is that the EU and many other countries are now curbing sunflower oil usage, which is boosting demand for other vegetable oils. Importing countries, of which SA is a net importer of vegetable oils and fats, can now only partly substitute with products from other countries,” said Botes.

In his weekly newsletter, the CEO of Citrus Growers Association of SA Justin Chadwick said Russia imports approximately 7-10% of SA citrus fruits.

“With no fresh produce having been shipped to the region over the past few weeks by most countries, early shipments of lemons destined for the Russian market have been impacted. Should this situation continue, when the export season officially kicks off in April, other varietals such as grapefruit and soft citrus will also be impacted,” he said.

Economist Wandile Sihlobo said SA did not have strong agricultural import ties with Russia and Ukraine but the country would feel a financial pinch because the two countries are big players in the exporting of grains, oil seeds, fertilisers and crude oil in the world.

“Russia is the 17th largest agricultural products supplier to SA and Ukraine the 44th. In value terms, agricultural imports from these two countries accounted for just 2.4% of SA's total agricultural imports of $5.9bn in 2020,” said Sihlobo.