US ambassador accuses South Africa of supplying arms to Russia

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa. PHOTO | TOBY MELVILLE | POOL VIA AFP

The US envoy to South Africa on Thursday accused the country of having covertly provided arms to Russia, a charge that drew an angry rebuke from Pretoria.

Ambassador Reuben Brigety told a media briefing the US believed weapons and ammunition had been laden onto a Russian freighter that docked at a Cape Town naval base in December.