South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks, as China's President Xi Jinping listens, at the Union Buildings ahead of the opening remarks of the BRICS emerging economies meeting, in Pretoria, South Africa August 22, 2023.
The U.S. accusations raised questions over South Africa's professed stance of non-alignment and neutrality over Russia's war in Ukraine and concerns of possible Western sanctions.
"The panel found that there was no evidence to support the claim that the ship transported weapons from South Africa destined for Russia," Ramaphosa said.
He said he could not reveal details of the equipment offloaded because that could compromise important military operations and put South African soldiers' lives at risk.
When the accusations were made, South African officials were quick to reject the claims, and Ramaphosa launched the independent inquiry led by a retired judge.
Persons:
Cyril Ramaphosa, Xi Jinping, Alet Pretorius, Reuben Brigety, R, South Africa's, Ramaphosa, Olivia Kumwenda, Andrew Cawthorne, Ros Russell, Susan Fenton
Organizations:
REUTERS, Rights, South, South African National Defence Force, Thomson
Locations:
Pretoria, South Africa, Rights JOHANNESBURG, Russian, Russia, U.S, Cape Town, Ukraine, South