Parties protest Ukrainian President's visit!

POLITICAL PARTIES said no to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

These political parties said Zelensky is not welcome in South Africa.

The Ukrainian President met President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Union Buildings in Tshwane on Thursday, 24 April, which angered other political parties who picketed outside the Union Buildings grounds.

The political parties protested in rainy weather.

According to MK party (MKP) spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, the picket was peaceful.

He said they are demonstrating against the presence of Zelensky in South Africa, invited by the government of national unity led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ndhlela, who led the picket, said there's nothing at all that connects us with Ukraine.

"We are connected with Russia and BRICS, which are our trade partners. There is nothing Ukraine can actually discuss with us on a bilateral perspective. They are a puppet of NATO. Ramaphosa and GNU must not do this in our name," he said.

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Ndhlela further said Zelensky is a sellout of the West.

Meanwhile, the Gauteng EFF deputy chairman Phillip Makwala led the party's picket.

Makwala said Zelensky is not welcome in South Africa.

"We are demonstrating against a murderer and a puppet of the USA and the West. We are not going to call Zelensky a president because he is a puppet," he said.

He said there's nothing for Zelensky to visit South Africa.

Makwala said South African government led by Ramaphosa is in close ties with Russia particularly as we are in BRICS.

"We have supported Russia during apartheid and it supported us with weapons. Zelensky's visit is a provocation of war, and it undermines our democracy," Makwala said.

The African People's Convention (APC) Deputy Secretary-General Mo-Afrika Modibe Modiba also stood against the illegal visit of Zelensky to the country.

"We stand with Russia and we view Zelensky as a puppet of the West and a stooge of the imperialist who continues to exploit the continent of Africa.

"As APC we reject this visit by Zelensky, he is prolonging the war in his country to avoid going for elections as his term in office ended more than a year ago," said Modiba.