South Africa-Ukraine: Contentious visa agreement sparks controversy

Critics see the announced deal as an affront to South Africa's long relationship with Russia.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifyUS ElectionElection pollsKamala HarrisDonald TrumpJD VanceTim WalzSportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsUS ElectionSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersSouth Africa government split over Ukraine visa dealSA governmentSouth Africa's Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola hosted his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on MondayA controversial agreement to grant Ukrainian diplomats visa-free access to South Africa has sparked outrage within political circles.

South Africa's Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, who is from a different party to the president, announced the deal on Sunday, terming Ukraine a "valued ally".

But the presidency has criticised Schreiber for announcing the agreement without formal authorisation from President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Critics see the deal as an affront to South Africa's long-standing relationship with Russia - though the country has remained neutral on the conflict in Ukraine.

The African National Congress (ANC) has sharply differed with the Democratic Alliance (DA), its largest coalition partner, over the country’s relationship with Russia.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c14l0rm4618o

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