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WATCH: Ramaphosa security head accuses Polish government of ‘sabotage, racism’
Ramaphosa’s security and journalists meant to accompany the president on the African Peace Mission were stopped from disembarking the plane.
Head of the Presidential Protection Services Major General Wally Rhoode. Photo: Screengrab of video:
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s head of security Major General Wally Rhoode has told the media the Polish Government has “sabotaged the South African government, accusing the Poles of racism.
This comes after Ramaphosa’s security detail and a contingent of journalists who were meant to accompany the president on the African Peace Mission were halted from disembarking the South African Airways (SAA) A340 chartered plane by Polish authorities.
The plane has been stuck on the runway since 1 pm on Thursday after it landed at the Warsaw Chopin Airport in Poland.
Watch: Head of the Presidential Protection Services Major General Wally Rhoode speaking about the challenges in Poland
African Peace Mission
Ramaphosa arrived earlier in Warsaw as part of his participation in the African Peace Mission aimed at a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
Ramaphosa, heads of state from Egypt, Congo, Zambia, Senegal and Uganda seek to broker peace in the Ukraine war as he made the arduous journey to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for deliberations with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The leaders are expected to meet with Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin to broker a peace deal to put an end to the war in Ukraine.
ALSO READ: Ramaphosa lands in Poland to begin African Peace Mission
Sabotage and racism
However, the media contingency, his security detail, and several containers carrying weapons and other equipment required by the police services to protect Ramaphosa were being held by Polish authorities on the tarmac.
Rhoode said the authorities refused to accept the paperwork for the weapons.
“They say we don’t have permits. We have permits; the only difference is now they say we can’t bring a copy of a permit, we must bring the original.
“They are delaying us. They are putting the life of our president in jeopardy because we could have been in Kiev this afternoon already and this is what they are doing; how racist they are… we were sabotaged while we were here.” Rhoode said.
Back home
According to SA Gov News, the cargo offloaded from the plane was since reloaded back onto the aircraft due to fears of it being confiscated.
It is unclear if the plane carrying the journalists, Ramaphosa’s security detail and the cargo will be allowed to continue to Kiev where the president will be meeting with Zelensky or return to South Africa.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Ramaphosa says he will decide if Putin visits SA
