DA submits PAIA application to access the manifest of goods on the Russian ship and plane

9 May 2023

The DA has today submitted a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application to the Department of Defence in which we requested that they provide us with documentation cargo manifest of the Russian ship that docked at Naval Base Simonstown and the Russian plane that landed at Air Force Base Waterkloof.

Ever since the ANC threw its unconditional support behind Vladimir Putin for his war of aggression in Ukraine, the Russians have turned South Africa into their backyard by coming and going as they please with the blessing of the ANC. The problem is, they have pulled these stunts using a plane and ship that are currently under sanctions – potentially exposing South Africa to the risk of international isolation and economic exclusion.

The DA’s two part PAIA application has requested that the Department of Defence provides information on the following:

In December 2022, it was reported that a Russian ship, named Lady-R, berthed and docked at Naval Base Simonstown. We request that the Department of Defence provides us with a manifest of (i) the goods that were offloaded by the ship at the naval base (ii) the goods that were loaded on board the ship before it left the naval base and sailed away (iii) copies of import and export permit approvals?

In April 2023, it was reported that a Russian plane, Ilyushin II-76(RA76502), which is under international sanctions, landed at Air Force Base Waterkloof. We request that the Department of Defence provides us with a manifest of (i) the goods that were offloaded by the plane at the base (ii) the goods that were loaded on the plane before it left the Republic (iii) authorizations to land at Air Force Base Waterkloof?

Air Force Base Waterkloof and Naval Base Simonstown are military installations that should not be abused for the ANC’s narrow political interests. South Africans need to know who authorized the landing at Waterkloof and the docking at the naval base, including the type of goods that were brought in and out. The DA will not be party to the ANC’s recklessness and we will hold them accountable for acting as enablers of Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Issued by Kobus Marais, DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Affairs, 9 May 2023