Lady R incident

{{Short description|Diplomatic row between US and South Africa over 2022 docking of a Russian ship in South Africa}}

File:Russia's Lady R Leaves Simons Town 03.jpg (left) can be seen in the foreground.]]

The Lady R incident, also known as #LadyRussiagate, refers to the docking of the sanctioned Russian cargo ship Lady R at Simon's Town Naval Base in South Africa in December 2022 and the resulting diplomatic impact. The ship was carrying military cargo. The incident is controversial for the secretive nature of the docking and an allegation by the United States ambassador to South Africa that South African military supplies were loaded onto the ship for use in Russia's invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Rebecca |date=12 May 2023 |title=PORT IN AN INTERNATIONAL STORM: Explainer: What we know about the explosive Russian ship scandal so far |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-12-explainer-what-we-know-about-the-explosive-russian-ship-scandal-so-far/ |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}

Background

{{See also|International sanctions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine}}

= The Lady R =

The Lady R is a Russian flagged roll-on/roll-off type cargo ship built in 2004 by the Türkiye Gemi Shipbuilding company in Istanbul, Turkey.{{Cite web |last=BalticShipping.com |title=BalticShipping.com |url=https://www.balticshipping.com/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=www.balticshipping.com |language=en}} Prior to 2019, it was named the "Sloman Producer." It has a typical draught of 4.4 meters, a length of 123 meters and a beam of 19 meters. The ship uses a 5760 kW MAN-B&W type engine. It uses the call sign UBDT8 and has the IMO / MMSI numbers 9161003 / 273212120.{{Cite web |title=LADY R, Ro-Ro Cargo Ship - Details and current position - IMO 9161003 - VesselFinder |url=https://www.vesselfinder.com/vessels/details/9161003 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=www.vesselfinder.com}} The ship has a recorded gross tonnage of 7260 and a summer dead-weight of 7630 tons. As of 2024, its registered home port is Astrakhan, Russia.

= South African position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine =

File:2YAN_5330_(52766236393).jpg (left) and South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor (right) on 22 September 2022.]]

Following Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine wide-ranging sanctions were imposed on Russia by the United States, Canada, and numerous countries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions. On 8 May 2022 the Lady R was listed as one of two Russian cargo ships sanctioned by the United States for its involvement in the transport of munitions from North Korea to the Russian Federation in support of Russia's invasion.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2023 |title=Taking Additional Sweeping Measures Against Russia |url=https://www.state.gov/taking-additional-sweeping-measures-against-russia-3/ |access-date=2024-03-08 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}

Prior to the December 2022 docking of the Lady R in Simon's Town, the South African government's position on the invasion of Ukraine had drawn criticism for being unofficially friendly towards Russia whilst official neutral.{{Cite web |title=Ukraine: Someone needs to speak for SA |url=https://www.da.org.za/2022/05/ukraine-someone-needs-to-speak-for-sa |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Democratic Alliance |language=en}}{{Cite web |last1=Jurgens |first1=Richard |date=2022-07-04 |title=Russia in Ukraine: South Africa's unprincipled stance |url=https://gga.org/russia-in-ukraine-south-africas-unprincipled-stance/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Good Governance Africa |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Hamill |first=James |date=2022-03-16 |title=South Africa Has Clearly Chosen a Side on the War in Ukraine |url=https://www.worldpoliticsreview.com/south-africa-has-chosen-a-side-on-ukraine-invasion-by-russia/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=World Politics Review |language=en-US}} Although South Africa initially condemned Russia's invasion{{Cite web |title=South African Government calls for a peaceful resolution of the escalating conflict between the Russian Federation and Ukraine |url=http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/2022/ukra0224.htm |access-date=2022-02-27 |website=www.dirco.gov.za}} it retracted the statement and instead declared official neutrality.{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2022-02-27 |title=WAR IN EUROPE: Pretoria scrambles to repair relations with Russia after calling for invasion forces to leave Ukraine |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-02-27-pretoria-scrambles-to-repair-relations-with-russia-after-calling-for-invasion-force-to-leave-ukraine/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} Despite the invasion and resulting international diplomatic condemnation Russian-South Africa relations have remained strong{{Cite web |last=Felix |first=Jason |title=SA maintains 'cordial and friendly' relationship with Russia despite invasion of Ukraine |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/sa-maintains-cordial-and-friendly-relationship-with-russia-despite-invasion-of-ukraine-20220226 |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} with South Africa being one of 35 countries to abstain from a subsequent United Nations vote demanding that Russia withdraw from Ukraine.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-03 |title=UN General Assembly demands Russian withdrawal from Ukraine, South Africa abstains from vote |url=https://mg.co.za/news/2022-03-03-un-general-assembly-demands-russian-withdrawal-from-ukraine-south-africa-abstains-from-vote/ |access-date=2022-03-03 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

The country's governing political party since 1994, the African National Congress (ANC), has been criticized by some in South Africa for being too supportive of Russia.{{Cite web |last=Polakow-Suransky |first=Eusebius McKaiser, Sasha |date=18 March 2022 |title=South Africa's Self-Defeating Silence on Ukraine |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/03/18/south-africa-ukraine-russia-putin-ramaphosa-war-diplomacy-negotiation/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Foreign Policy |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last1=Fabricius |first1=Peter |date=2022-09-25 |title=WAR IN EUROPE: ANC Youth League lends credibility to sham Moscow referendums in Ukraine |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-09-25-anc-youth-league-lends-credibility-to-sham-moscow-referendums-in-ukraine/ |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} The ANC received $826,000 from United Manganese of Kalahari (UMK) mines in 2022, a company that Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg and the ANC party's investment arm, Chancellor House, have invested in.{{Cite web |last=Gerber |first=Jan |title=Lady R's cargo manifest is 'classified' claims ANC as opposition wants answers |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/lady-rs-cargo-manifest-is-classified-claims-anc-as-opposition-wants-answers-20230523 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/07/28/africa/south-africa-russia-manganese-mine-anc-intl-cmd/index.html | title=South Africa's stance on Russia puzzles many. Could a mine in the desert hold answers? | website=CNN | date=28 July 2023 }}

Docking at Simon's Town Naval Base

File:Russia's Lady R Leaves Simons Town 01.jpg

In October 2022 the Lady R started its voyage from the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk{{Cite news |title=Tracking Lady R: the covert voyage that allegedly took South African arms to Russia |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6485f5a6-1188-4b2f-8f9b-dbedced1afbd |access-date=2024-03-17 |newspaper=Financial Times|date=14 May 2023 |last1=Cotterill |first1=Joseph |last2=Bernard |first2=Steven |last3=Harlow |first3=Max }} en route to the port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.{{Cite web |last=O’Regan |first=Victoria |date=2022-12-07 |title=Sanctioned Russian ship docks at Simon's Town Naval Base |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-07-docking-in-the-dark-sanctioned-russian-ship-drops-anchor-at-simons-town-naval-base/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} Sometime between 8 pm and 10 pm on Tuesday, 6 December 2022, halfway through its circumnavigation of Africa, the Lady R docked at the Naval Base in Simon's Town, South Africa.{{Cite web |last=Solomons |first=Lisalee |title=WATCH {{!}} No sign of the Lady R vessel in Simon's Town, SA Navy, SANDF still mum over cargo ship |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/watch-i-no-sign-of-the-lady-r-vessel-in-simons-town-sa-navy-sandf-still-mum-over-cargo-ship-20221209 |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=News24 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230520030542/https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/watch-i-no-sign-of-the-lady-r-vessel-in-simons-town-sa-navy-sandf-still-mum-over-cargo-ship-20221209 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=O’Regan |first=Victoria |date=9 December 2022 |title=SHIPS IN THE NIGHT: Russian vessel slips out of Simon's Town with still no official explanation |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-09-mystery-russian-ship-leaves-simons-town-still-no-official-explanation/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} The ship had turned off its marine tracking system south of Agulhas on 5 December 2022, and its arrival was unexpected and controversial.{{Cite web |title=South African MPs worried about their government's arming Russia |url=https://news.yahoo.com/south-african-mps-worried-government-165600910.html |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Yahoo News |date=11 December 2022 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221223052243/https://news.yahoo.com/south-african-mps-worried-government-165600910.html|archive-date= December 23, 2022}} The ship was loaded and unloaded with cargo under armed guard at night under the cover of darkness as the country experienced a planned national rolling blackout{{Cite web |last=Helfrich |first=Kim |date=9 December 2022 |title=Mysterious Russian cargo ship Lady R exits Simon's Town |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/mysterious-russian-cargo-ship-lady-r-exits-simons-town/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=defenceWeb |language=en-ZA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209103812/https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/mysterious-russian-cargo-ship-lady-r-exits-simons-town/|archive-date= December 9, 2022}} on 8 December.{{Cite news |date=14 May 2023 |title=Tracking Lady R: the covert voyage that allegedly took South African arms to Russia |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/6485f5a6-1188-4b2f-8f9b-dbedced1afbd |access-date=2023-05-14|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230515094500/https://www.ft.com/content/6485f5a6-1188-4b2f-8f9b-dbedced1afbd|archive-date=May 15, 2023}} The ship left early the next day on Friday, 9 December 2022{{Cite web |last=Solomons |first=Nicole McCain and Lisalee |title=No distress signal flagged for Russian ship that left as mysteriously as it berthed at SA naval base |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/no-distress-signal-flagged-for-russian-ship-that-left-as-mysteriously-as-it-berthed-at-sa-naval-base-20221210 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=News24 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://archive.today/20221211122111/https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/no-distress-signal-flagged-for-russian-ship-that-left-as-mysteriously-as-it-berthed-at-sa-naval-base-20221210|archive-date= December 11, 2022}} and completed its journey to Dar es Salaam in February 2023. The docking was shrouded in secrecy, and neither the South African nor Russian governments commented on it at the time.{{Cite web |title=Why so much secrecy around Russian vessel in Simons Town? |url=https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/461868/suspicious-activity-as-russian-ship-lady-r-docks-in-simons-town-harbour |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=CapeTalk |language=en-ZA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230122045121/https://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/461868/suspicious-activity-as-russian-ship-lady-r-docks-in-simons-town-harbour|archive-date=January 22, 2023}}

There was significant speculation at the time about whether or not this was an instance of South Africa supplying weapons to Russian forces in support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Two weeks later, following repeated questions about the docking, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise stated that the Lady R was offloading an old, outstanding order for ammunition.{{Cite web |last=O’Regan |first=Victoria |date=22 December 2022 |title=SHIPPING LANES: Lady R's cargo was an 'old order' for ammunition, Modise says, but remains tight-lipped on details |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-12-22-lady-rs-cargo-was-an-old-order-for-ammunition-modise-says/ |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Vanessa Banton and Muhammad |title=IN-DEPTH {{!}} #LadyRussiagate: Highly unlikely SA supplied weapons to Russia, say experts |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/opinions/analysis/in-depth-ladyrussiagate-highly-unlikely-sa-supplied-weapons-to-russia-say-experts-20230512 |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=News24 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230512135431/https://www.news24.com/news24/opinions/analysis/in-depth-ladyrussiagate-highly-unlikely-sa-supplied-weapons-to-russia-say-experts-20230512|archive-date=May 12, 2023}}

File:Russia's Lady R Leaves Simons Town 06.jpg

Witnesses observed that 6 shipping containers were loaded on to the ship before midnight on 8 December just prior to its departure.{{Cite web |last=O’Regan |first=Victoria |date=2023-05-23 |title=PORT IN AN INTERNATIONAL STORM : In pictures — a whole lot of fokol being loaded on to the Lady R |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-23-in-pictures-a-whole-lot-of-fokol-being-loaded-on-to-the-lady-r/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}

The Lady R{{'}}s arrival in South Africa came at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and South Africa's unwillingness to criticize the invasion despite its policy of supporting a rules based international order.{{Cite journal |last1=Hendricks |first1=Cheryl |last2=Majozi |first2=Nkululeko |date=10 February 2021 |title=South Africa's International Relations: A New Dawn? |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0021909620946851?icid=int.sj-full-text.similar-articles.6 |journal=Journal of Asian and African Studies |volume=56 |issue=1 |pages=64–78 |doi=10.1177/0021909620946851 |via=Sage Journals}}

2023 accusation by the American ambassador

On 11 May 2023, the United States ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, accused the country of supplying arms to Russia during the December 2022 docking of the Lady R.{{Cite news |title=South Africa loaded weapons onto Russian vessel, U.S. envoy says |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/11/south-africa-russian-weapons-ship/ |access-date=2023-05-14 |issn=0190-8286|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230511202557/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/05/11/south-africa-russian-weapons-ship/|archive-date=May 11, 2023}} During the same announcement, ambassador Brigety also stated that the ANC, the governing political party of South Africa, had been unresponsive to repeated American attempts at dialogue and that the ANC's policy document on the war in Ukraine was "hostile" to the government of the United States.{{Cite web |last=Mahlangu |first=Isaac |date=11 May 2023 |title='Hostile' ANC ignores Washington attempts for dialogue: US ambassador to SA |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-05-11-hostile-anc-ignores-washington-attempts-for-dialogue-us-ambassador-to-sa/ |website=timeslive.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519111801/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2023-05-11-hostile-anc-ignores-washington-attempts-for-dialogue-us-ambassador-to-sa/|archive-date=May 19, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=12 May 2023 |title=Brigety: ANC hostile towards America |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAtnivPqBjY |website=eNCA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230513172733/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAtnivPqBjY&gl=US&hl=en |archive-date=13 May 2023 |access-date=14 May 2023 |url-status=bot: unknown }}{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Victoria O’Regan and Peter |date=2023-05-11 |title=PORT IN AN INTERNATIONAL STORM: US ambassador lashes out at ANC government for 'providing arms and ammunition to Russia' |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-11-us-ambassador-lashes-out-at-anc-government-for-providing-arms-and-ammunition-to-russia/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} Ambassador Brigety went on to say that this indicated that South Africa was "not non-aligned",{{Citation |title=Did South Africa supply Russia with weapons? |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS6YreGT-g8 |publication-date=12 May 2023 |access-date=2023-05-18 |publisher=DW News |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518195342/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS6YreGT-g8 |archive-date=18 May 2023 |url-status=bot: unknown }} contrary to South Africa's officially proclaimed non-aligned position on the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The docking of the Lady R, along with other incidents of South Africa-Russia cooperation, further strained South Africa's relationship with the US and other Western countries whilst increasing skepticism in the West of South Africa's self-proclaimed non-aligned or neutral position on the war in Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2023-05-07 |title=INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: The landing of a sanctioned Russian plane at Waterkloof undermines Mufamadi's US mission |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-07-the-landing-of-a-sanctioned-russian-plane-at-waterkloof-undermines-mufamadis-us-mission/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=South African Army Chief Visits Moscow for Bilateral Talks |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/south-african-army-chief-visits-moscow-for-bilateral-talks-/7094665.html |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=VOA |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519101931/https://www.voanews.com/a/south-african-army-chief-visits-moscow-for-bilateral-talks-/7094665.html|archive-date= May 19, 2023}} Prior to ambassador Brigety's accusation South Africa had also hosted the naval exercise Mosi II with Russia and China which coincided with the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine,{{Cite news |last=Plessis |first=Carien du |date=2023-02-18 |title=South Africa's naval exercise with Russia, China raises Western alarm |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/south-africas-naval-exercise-with-russia-china-raises-western-alarm-2023-02-17/ |access-date=2023-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508205059/https://www.reuters.com/world/south-africas-naval-exercise-with-russia-china-raises-western-alarm-2023-02-17/|archive-date= May 8, 2023}} and allowed the secretive landing of a US-sanctioned Russian cargo aircraft at the Waterkloof Air Force Base.{{Cite news |last1=Chutel |first1=Lynsey |last2=Eligon |first2=John |date=2023-05-04 |title=South Africa Allowed Russian Plane Under U.S. Sanctions to Land at Base |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/world/africa/south-africa-russia-plane-sanctions.html |access-date=2023-05-08 |issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516194805/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/04/world/africa/south-africa-russia-plane-sanctions.html|archive-date= May 16, 2023}}

Roughly two weeks before ambassador Brigety's accusation, South Africa had sent a delegation to Washington, D.C. to advocate for the continuation of the country's inclusion in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA),{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2023-04-27 |title=REALITY CHECK: Ramaphosa delegation in the US to persuade Washington not to drop SA's trade benefits |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-04-27-ramaphosa-delegation-in-the-us-to-persuade-washington-not-to-drop-sas-trade-benefits/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} during which the American government claims they had raised concerns with the South African delegation about the country arming Russia.

= Reaction in South Africa =

South Africa denied the allegation and stated that the country's interaction with the Lady R was consistent with its non-aligned position on the war in Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=South Africa rejects US accusations of arms shipment to Russia |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/12/south-africa-rejects-us-accusations-of-arms-shipment-to-russia |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519165235/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/5/12/south-africa-rejects-us-accusations-of-arms-shipment-to-russia|archive-date=May 19, 2023}} South African President and President of the ANC Cyril Ramaphosa stated that an independent inquiry would be launched to investigate Brigety's accusation.{{Cite web |last=Verster |first=Compiled by Jenna |title=#LadyRussiagate: Independent inquiry to investigate claims that SA supplied arms to Russia – Presidency |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/ladyrussiagate-independent-inquiry-to-investigate-claims-that-sa-supplied-arms-to-russia-presidency-20230511 |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=News24 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230511184934/https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/ladyrussiagate-independent-inquiry-to-investigate-claims-that-sa-supplied-arms-to-russia-presidency-20230511|archive-date=May 11, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=11 May 2023 |title=Government to establish inquiry into "Lady R" weapons allegations |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/government-to-establish-inquiry-into-lady-r-weapons-allegations/ |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=SABC News |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519121152/https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/government-to-establish-inquiry-into-lady-r-weapons-allegations/|archive-date=May 19, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=11 May 2023 |title=Presidency responds to claims of weapons supply to Russia made by the US Ambassador |url=https://www.gov.za/speeches/presidency-responds-claims-weapons-supply-russia-made-us-ambassador-11-may-2023-0000 |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=www.gov.za |publisher=South African Government|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515111434/https://www.gov.za/speeches/presidency-responds-claims-weapons-supply-russia-made-us-ambassador-11-may-2023-0000|archive-date= May 15, 2023}} South Africa démarched ambassador Brigety and claimed that Bridgety later apologized for the statement.{{Cite news |date=12 May 2023 |title=South Africa-US dispute escalates as Vladimir Putin calls Cyril Ramaphosa |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/78d92277-7ae3-4b84-9cdf-37924dc09407 |access-date=2023-05-13|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230513110316/https://www.ft.com/content/78d92277-7ae3-4b84-9cdf-37924dc09407|archive-date=May 13, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Mntambo |first=Nokukhanya |title=US ambassador apologises 'unreservedly' to SA over Russia allegations – Dirco |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/05/13/us-ambassador-apologises-unreservedly-to-sa-over-russia-allegations-dirco |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519091304/https://ewn.co.za/2023/05/13/us-ambassador-apologises-unreservedly-to-sa-over-russia-allegations-dirco|archive-date= May 19, 2023}} Following the accusation, South African Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana stated that US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had informed him in February 2023 of American suspicions that South Africa had supplied arms and ammunition to Russia when the Lady R docked.{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Victoria O’Regan and Peter |date=2023-05-13 |title=PORT IN AN INTERNATIONAL STORM: US rang the alarm bells in February about SA's alleged supply of arms to Russian cargo ship Lady R – Godongwana |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-13-us-rang-the-alarm-bells-in-february-about-sas-alleged-supply-of-arms-to-russian-cargo-ship-lady-r-godongwana/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}

Four days after ambassador Brigety's accusation, the commander of Russia's ground forces, general Oleg Salyukov, met with chief of the South African army lieutenant general Lawrence Mbatha to discuss issues of military cooperation and combat readiness.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=South African army general in Moscow days after country accused of sending weapons to Russia |url=https://wreg.com/news/international/ap-international/south-african-army-general-in-moscow-days-after-country-accused-of-sending-weapons-to-russia/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=WREG.com |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516125331/https://wreg.com/news/international/ap-international/south-african-army-general-in-moscow-days-after-country-accused-of-sending-weapons-to-russia/|archive-date= May 16, 2023}} South Africa denied that the meeting was connected to the diplomatic incident resulting from the Lady R docking and stated that the trip was planned before Brigety's statement.

At an ANC political event, President Ramaphosa later stated that his government found Brigety's accusation "distasteful" and as "an attack"{{Cite web |last=Mabaso |first=Nhlanhla |title=Ramaphosa calls Russia arms allegations a 'distasteful attack' on SA |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/05/14/ramaphosa-calls-russia-arms-allegations-a-distasteful-attack-on-sa |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518215316/https://ewn.co.za/2023/05/14/ramaphosa-calls-russia-arms-allegations-a-distasteful-attack-on-sa|archive-date= May 18, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Maliti |first=Soyiso |title=#LadyRussiagate: Brigety 'launched distasteful attack' on SA, Ramaphosa tells ANC eThekwini members |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/government/ladyrussiagate-brigety-launched-distasteful-attack-on-sa-ramaphosa-tells-anc-ethekwini-members-20230514 |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=News24 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230520044556/https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/government/ladyrussiagate-brigety-launched-distasteful-attack-on-sa-ramaphosa-tells-anc-ethekwini-members-20230514|archive-date=May 20, 2023}} on South Africa by not following normal diplomatic processes but stated that talks with the ambassador thereafter were cordial.

South Africa's largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, accused the ANC government of secretly supplying weapons to Russia in return for secret funding for the ANC's re-election campaign in the 2024 general election.{{Cite web |last=Madiba |first=Thabi |date=12 May 2023 |title=DA points to Russia funding ANC, calls for Modise's dismissal in weapons saga |url=https://www.polity.org.za/article/da-points-to-russia-funding-anc-in-weapons-saga-2023-05-12 |website=Polity.org.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516132352/https://www.polity.org.za/article/da-points-to-russia-funding-anc-in-weapons-saga-2023-05-12|archive-date= May 16, 2023}} Stating that unless one considered the possibility of Russian funding for the ANC, South Africa's support for Russia in its war against Ukraine "made no sense." South Africa's third largest political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, rejected the accusation,{{Cite web |last=Lekabe |first=Thapelo |date=2023-05-12 |title='America is becoming a crybaby': Malema dismisses US claims of SA supplying weapons to Russia |url=https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/malema-dismisses-us-claims-weapons-russia-may-2023/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=The Citizen |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519134012/https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/malema-dismisses-us-claims-weapons-russia-may-2023/|archive-date= May 19, 2023}} called for the immediate dismissal of ambassador Brigety,{{Cite web |last=Helfrich |first=Kim |date=2023-05-15 |title="Tell us what was loaded on the Lady R" – OUTA |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/tell-us-what-was-loaded-on-the-lady-r-outa/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=defenceWeb |language=en-ZA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516131251/https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/tell-us-what-was-loaded-on-the-lady-r-outa/|archive-date= May 16, 2023}} accused the US of spreading propaganda,{{Cite web |last=Zeeman |first=Kyle |date=12 May 2023 |title=WATCH {{!}} 'America is just becoming a crybaby' — Malema weighs in on Russian weapon ship allegations |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2023-05-12-watch-america-is-just-becoming-a-crybaby-malema-weighs-in-on-russian-weapon-ship-allegations/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=TimesLIVE |language=en-ZA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230518173541/https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2023-05-12-watch-america-is-just-becoming-a-crybaby-malema-weighs-in-on-russian-weapon-ship-allegations/|archive-date= May 18, 2023}} and stated that if "guns [...] were given to Russia [then] it was a good thing."{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Kayleen |title='If guns were given to Russia it was a good thing' - Malema |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/05/15/if-guns-were-given-to-russia-it-was-a-good-thing-malema |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519150848/https://ewn.co.za/2023/05/15/if-guns-were-given-to-russia-it-was-a-good-thing-malema|archive-date= May 19, 2023}}

The South African civil society group Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) demanded that the South African government publicly share information on what cargo was loaded onto the Lady R and be more transparent about South African arms sales generally. The South African academic and criminologist Guy Lamb asserted that, assuming South Africa acted in accordance with its own laws, it was highly unlikely that South Africa loaded arms or ammunition onto the Lady R.{{Cite web |last=Lamb |first=Guy |date=2023-05-16 |title=Did South Africa sell arms to Russia? Only a series of unlikely scenarios could have made it possible |url=http://theconversation.com/did-south-africa-sell-arms-to-russia-only-a-series-of-unlikely-scenarios-could-have-made-it-possible-205689 |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=The Conversation |language=en |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230520040544/https://theconversation.com/did-south-africa-sell-arms-to-russia-only-a-series-of-unlikely-scenarios-could-have-made-it-possible-205689 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |url-status=live }}

The diplomatic incident caused speculation over whether the United States would be continuing South Africa's preferential trade status with the country through the AGOA,{{Cite web |title=US allegations that South Africa shipped arms to Russia puts AGOA at risk - Agoa.info - African Growth and Opportunity Act |url=https://agoa.info/news/article/16198-us-allegations-that-south-africa-shipped-arms-to-russia-puts-agoa-at-risk.html |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=agoa.info|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230520051834/https://agoa.info/news/article/16198-us-allegations-that-south-africa-shipped-arms-to-russia-puts-agoa-at-risk.html|archive-date= May 20, 2023}} thereby possibly inflicting significant damage to South Africa's economy.{{Cite web |last=Gopaldas |first=Ronak |date=2023-05-15 |title=ISS TODAY OP-ED: Lady R fallout — SA's perceived partisanship cloaked in neutrality may spell economic disaster |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-15-lady-r-fallout-sas-perceived-partisanship-cloaked-in-neutrality-may-spell-economic-disaster/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Cotterill |first=Joseph |date=2023-05-17 |title=South Africa's flirtation with Moscow risks billions of dollars in US exports |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/b94efa11-21af-420b-80be-653bc4e03884 |access-date=2023-05-18 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20230520050545/https://www.ft.com/content/b94efa11-21af-420b-80be-653bc4e03884 |archive-date=20 May 2023 |url-status=live }} There was also speculation that the incident might also threaten the continued status of PEPFAR in South Africa.{{Cite web |last=Haffajee |first=Ferial |date=11 May 2023 |title=COMRADES IN ARMS: Pro-Russia hawks in ANC likely to push back against US after ambassador's outburst |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-11-pro-russia-hawks-in-anc-likely-to-push-back-against-us-after-ambassadors-outburst/ |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} The value of the South African Rand declined from R18.8 per US dollar on 10 May to R19.3 per dollar by 18 May,{{Cite web |last=Thukwana |first=Ntando |date=2023-05-12 |title=Rand rattled: New record low after US claims of SA-Russia arms |url=https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/markets/us-claims-of-sa-russia-arms-exchange-rattles-rand/ |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=Moneyweb |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519063335/https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/markets/us-claims-of-sa-russia-arms-exchange-rattles-rand/|archive-date= May 19, 2023}} a decline that was attributed to the incident.{{Cite web |last=Ramela |first=Amo |title=Inside EWN Roundtable: What's the cost of SA's relationship with Russia? |url=https://ewn.co.za/2023/05/15/inside-ewn-roundtable-what-s-the-cost-of-sa-s-relationship-with-russia |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=ewn.co.za |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230519061822/https://ewn.co.za/2023/05/15/inside-ewn-roundtable-what-s-the-cost-of-sa-s-relationship-with-russia|archive-date=May 19, 2023}} In May 2023, South African Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Thandi Modise insisted "there was fokol [Afrikaans: nothing] on that ship".{{Cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/capetimes/news/fokol-on-russian-ship-minister-modise-sticks-to-her-guns-on-lady-r-saga-a1d3fb17-a400-4e19-b3be-f8bc0c9bfa04|title=‘Fokol on Russian ship’: Minister Modise sticks to her guns on Lady R saga|first=Mayibongwe|last=Maqhina|website=www.iol.co.za}}

At least two South African journalists stated that if the claims are proven false, Ambassador Brigety should be either ousted or punished for making unsubstantiated claims.{{Cite news |last=Stone |first=Setumo |date=August 14, 2023 |title=Brigety's Head on the Block Over Lady R Blunder |pages=1 |work=Sunday World |url=https://sundayworld.co.za/news/brigetys-head-on-the-block-over-lady-r-blunder/ |access-date=August 14, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Basson |first=Adriaan |date=August 14, 2023 |title=It's Simple: If Ambassador Brigety Lied About Lady R, He Should Go |pages=1 |work=News24 |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/opinions/columnists/adriaanbasson/adriaan-basson-its-simple-if-ambassador-brigety-lied-about-lady-r-he-should-go-20230813}}

= Reaction in Russia and Ukraine =

Russia responded by stating that their government "expressed their intention to further intensify mutually beneficial relations" in a possible attempt to exploit the situation. The Russian government later described ambassador Brigety's accusation as "totally fabricated and as false"{{Cite web |last=Ditabo |first=Malaika |title=Russian embassy hits back at US ambassador's claims, saying ammunition unsuitable for its arms |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/government/russian-embassy-hits-back-at-us-ambassadors-claims-saying-ammunition-unsuitable-for-its-arms-20230516 |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=News24 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230520044122/https://www.news24.com/news24/Politics/Government/russian-embassy-hits-back-at-us-ambassadors-claims-saying-ammunition-unsuitable-for-its-arms-20230516|archive-date=May 20, 2023}} whilst comparing it to Colin Powell's 2003 presentation to United Nations Security Council falsely accusing Iraq of having WMDs.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the incident by stating that he had spoken with President Ramaphosa two days after ambassador Brigety's accusation about "the peace formula [for the war], about justice, and about how our world should be united by the rules of international law."{{Cite web |title=Zelensky holds phone call with South African President |url=https://news.yahoo.com/zelensky-holds-phone-call-south-034417359.html |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Yahoo News |date=14 May 2023 |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515111253/https://news.yahoo.com/zelensky-holds-phone-call-south-034417359.html|archive-date= May 15, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Fabricius |first=Peter |date=2023-05-14 |title=PORT IN AN INTERNATIONAL STORM: Ukraine President Zelensky warns Ramaphosa against selling arms to Russia |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-14-ukraine-president-zelensky-warns-ramaphosa-against-selling-arms-to-russia/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} President Zelensky also stated that “anyone who helps the aggressor [Russia] with weapons will be an accomplice with all consequences” in possible reference to the event.

Inquiry findings

In May 2023, Ramaphosa named a three-person panel to investigate the incident.{{cite news |date=29 May 2023 |title=Three-member panel has six weeks to investigate Lady R affair |website=defenceweb.co.za |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/three-member-panel-has-six-weeks-to-investigate-lady-r-affair/ |access-date=29 May 2023}} The South African government published the executive summary of the findings but kept the full report secret arguing that it needed to maintain military security.{{Cite web |last=O’Regan |first=Victoria |date=2023-09-03 |title=Independent panel finds no evidence of arms loaded on to Lady R from South Africa, says President Ramaphosa |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-09-04-panel-finds-no-evidence-of-arms-loaded-on-to-lady-r-claims-ramaphosa-but-will-still-keep-the-full-report-secret/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Cotterill |first=Joseph |date=2023-09-04 |title=Inquiry rejects US claims that South Africa supplied arms to Russia |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cead3800-cba3-4116-8c5e-b4d0b1d36619 |access-date=2023-09-29}} The inquiry, headed by former judge Phineas Mojapelo,{{Cite web |last=O’Regan |first=Peter Fabricius and Victoria |date=2023-09-07 |title=UAE role in Lady R saga 'doesn't make sense', say experts |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-09-07-uae-role-in-lady-r-saga-doesnt-make-sense-say-experts/ |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} found that whilst the ship had delivered weapons from Russia to South Africa, there was "no evidence to support the claim that the ship transported weapons from South Africa destined for Russia."{{Cite news |date=2023-09-04 |title=South Africa says inquiry finds no evidence of arms shipment to Russia |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66703901 |access-date=2023-09-29}}

The inquiry also found that the South African government was unaware that the sanctioned Russian ship was heading to South Africa until it neared South African waters and that it was redirected to Naval Base Simon's Town after the port at Ngqura-Port Elizabeth refused to service the sanctioned ship.{{Cite web |last=Magome |first=Mogomotsi |date=6 September 2023 |title=South Africa didn't know a US-sanctioned Russian ship carried its military purchases, inquiry finds |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/south-africa-us-sanctioned-russian-ship-carried-military-102957336 |access-date=2023-09-29 |website=ABC News |language=en}} The inquiry also noted the role of the United Arab Emirates in facilitating the weapons transaction, and that the ship had turned off its identification transponder as it was being tracked by unnamed foreign intelligence agencies. The inquiry concluded that because the US sanctions were not endorsed by the United Nations, they were not binding on South Africa.

According to journalist Thulani Mpofu, "A South African government inquiry into whether weapons were loaded onto a Russian ship in December 2022, as claimed by a US diplomat, has established that a European company had in fact been uploading food onto the vessel."{{Cite news |last=Mpofu |first=Thulani |date=August 9, 2023 |title=Food, not guns were loaded onto Russian ship 'Lady R' in South Africa, inquiry finds |pages=1 |work=BNE Intellinews |url=https://www.intellinews.com/food-not-guns-were-loaded-onto-russian-ship-lady-r-in-south-africa-inquiry-finds-287479/}}

Both the South African and US governments sought to smooth relations following the publication of the inquiry. The US government stated that it appreciated the South African government's interest in investigating the incident but made no comment on the finding of the inquiry. The director of the African Defence Review, Darren Olivier, stated that the inquiry's findings raised "more questions than it answers" and that it was unlikely that it would close the issue. Since docking in South Africa, the Lady R has reportedly docked multiple times at North Korean ports, with the US alleging that it was transporting weaponry and military equipment to Russia to be used in support of that country's invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Report: Sanctioned Russian Supply Ship Lady R Spotted in North Korea |url=https://maritime-executive.com/article/report-sanctioned-russian-supply-ship-lady-r-spotted-in-north-korea |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=The Maritime Executive |language=en}}