South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will not sign the visa-free agreement between South Africa and Ukraine, according to African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. The agreement, which has been under discussion since 2020, aims to grant Ukrainian diplomats visa-free access to South Africa.
On Monday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced on social media that he had signed the agreement, expressing his satisfaction with the development. However, the Presidency quickly clarified that Ramaphosa had yet to sign it, leading to confusion and debate on social media.
Mbalula criticized Schreiber’s claims, stating that the minister was misleading the public. “Leon Schreiber claims to have signed the Ukraine agreement. He is crazy and overly excited. Comrades are angry, but I’m not bothered because I know the president won’t sign it,” Mbalula said.
International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola also indicated that the agreement was still being finalized.