As much as South Africa has angrily protested foreign intelligence for exposing suspected arms shipments by Transmorflot Russia’s Lady R (Turkish built and formerly a Roll-On/Roll-Off Car Carrier SLOMAN PRODUCER)… the latest move to appoint an internal investigation has exposed large domestic disputes about global identity.

…President will appoint a judge (retired) to investigate this matter. This is where we find ourselves regarding whatever claim has been made about the alleged transfers of arms to Russia. On 28 May 2023, a three-person panel was appointed by the president, headed by Judge Phineas Mojapelo (retired).

“The panel is currently hard at work in order to bring this matter to its ultimate conclusion within its mandate. The Panel has been granted a six (6) week period to conclude its investigation.”

“Within its mandate” is code for under a rug.

The official opposition’s ire was raised by the reports with Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen leading the charge.

“Hiding the findings of the report will only further damage South Africa’s international standing, as it will create legitimate fears of a cover-up. The fact that Ramaphosa has suddenly announced his intention to hide the report from the public suggests he has already become aware of incriminating information he wants to hide from public view to protect his government.

It seems likely at this point that South Africa thought it would facilitate arms transfer to Russia by allowing a sanctioned ship to transit its port, intermediary for secretive private cargo handled by foreign military intelligence… and get away with it by claiming official “know nothing” status.

…the Minister speculated about the possibility of a private company potentially utilising the Lady R to transport illegal arms or other contraband destined for Russia.

Given South Africa’s dubious past role in arms deals — like the 1980s when it flipped the NRA in America from a regulator to the thin veneer for gun makers violating sanctions — this ship represents much more than a single port incident.

It’s a giant domestic bone of contention. Should South Africans be allowed, even secretively, to passively enrich themselves by facilitating armed conflicts elsewhere? There’s a much larger matter here, of moving past lingering national indignities and achieving respect for law and order.

It reminds me of Chinatown corruption in San Francisco (facilitating illegal arms shipments) finally being confronted and then taken down by a Chinese-American Mayor.