South Africa’s love-affair with Russia

Economist ^ | 2017 | George Weigel

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Vladimir Putin may frighten some countries, but Russia gives many South Africans a warm and fuzzy feeling. They remember support in decades past: during apartheid the Soviet Union provided military training and arms to the African National Congress (ANC), as well as to other liberation movements on the continent. Some surprisingly common South African first names—such as Soviet, Moscow and Lenin—are living tributes to these old ties. Sputnik Ratau, born shortly after the first satellite’s launch, is a spokesman for the water and sanitation department. A high school in KwaZulu-Natal is named after Eric Mtshali, a stalwart of the struggle who spent decades in exile and goes by the nickname “Stalin”.

Recently, Russia and South Africa have sought to renew these cold-war-era ties. The two countries are scrapping visa requirements from March 30th, allowing up to 90 days of trouble-free travel. South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, has already developed a taste for Russian holidays. In 2014, after a tiring election campaign, he took a six-day trip with his state security minister that included several days of “rest”. A few weeks later South Africa signed an agreement with Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear power company, to buy several nuclear-power stations. Though the deal appears to have stalled because of controversy over the 1 trillion-rand ($76bn) price tag, there has been other co-operation in intelligence and defence, with South African spies and air-force pilots said to have received Russian training. On March 6th communications officials from the two countries pledged to work on “collaborative media activities”.

For Mr Zuma, and for an anti-Western strain within the ANC, Russia and China offer an ideological alternative. Sanctions-hit Russia sees Africa as a source of political support and business opportunities. South Africa has laid out the welcome mat, inviting Mr Putin to visit this year.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Meanwhile Putin is using thousands of white South African Boer farmers as pawns by letting them settle in *annexed* CRIMEA, exhibiting his own continued penchant for Bolshevik style land redistribution.

This while continuing his Cold-War revivalist onslaught on Africa to build ties with some of the most corrupt regimes in the world. The latest from today: Kremlin signs military deal with Central African Republic. - The Times UK

[butlerweave]

Smell that , US sanctions coming to South Africa

[Zhang Fei]

Putin’s deals are not very different from Soviet era subsidies to fellow communist regimes. The problem for Russia is that they are a huge cash drain. Putin will eventually have to choose between the Russian welfare state and welfare for Russia’s basket case allies.

[PGR88]

The Economist is the deepest of the “Deep State” rags.

[miss marmelstein]

What a bunch of idiots.

[rrrod]

Gee...who da thunk it?

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Putin is the deepest of “Deep State” rags.

[x]

Meanwhile Putin is using thousands of white South African Boer farmers as pawns by letting them settle in *annexed* CRIMEA

Apartheid South Africa was trying to attract Soviet emigrants when both regimes were on their last legs. They figured the more whites they could bring in the better. So it's ironic or appropriate if the tables have turned and the Russians are trying the same thing 25 or so years later. Meanwhile, Black Africans who've settled in Russia aren't always happy with their lives there.

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Sorry due to auto-text, I wrongly attributed this article to George Weigel — but in fact the author’s name is not provided for in the original source.