Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen took it upon himself to embark on a fact-finding mission in war-torn Ukraine.
Why is John Steenhuisen in Ukraine?
The head of South Africa’s official opposition party noted, in a statement released on Sunday, he had landed in Lviv, Western Ukraine, to kickstart his six-day tour, where he will be “visiting refugee camps as well as meeting with various mayors, governors, business leaders, students and ordinary Ukrainian citizens to see, first-hand, the effects of the Russian invasion and the ongoing occupation of parts of Ukraine.”
“In the era of fake news and propaganda, this is the only way to truly know what is happening,” Steenhuisen asserted.
The trip, not sanctioned by the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa, let alone the Department of International Relations (DIRCO), Steenhuisen added, was an initiative he took to “tell the unfiltered truth about what is taking place there so that the world can stand united in bringing this injustice to an end.”
Today, DA Leader, @jsteenhuisen arrived in the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine from where he will embark on a six-day tour of various parts of Ukraine to see, first-hand, the effects of the Russian invasion and the ongoing occupation of parts of Ukraine.#JohnVisitsUkraine pic.twitter.com/MIAN366Yos
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) May 1, 2022
Suffice it to say, Steenhuisen’s visit drew mixed reactions. In his statement, the DA leader targeted the governing ANC and their neutral stance in the war, considering, of course, that President Ramaphosa is a member of BRICS.
“We dare not pretend that this is a war that has nothing to do with us. And we dare not pretend that remaining ‘neutral’ in this situation is admirable. When we have clear and undeniable evidence of injustice, we owe it to the victims to pick a side and speak out,” Steenhuisen added.
What Steenhuisen hopes to achieve with the oversight visit has yet to be formally articulated. Here is how ordinary South Africans reacted to Steenhuisen’s visit to Ukraine.
I find criticism of John Steenhuisen going to Ukraine quite odd. Sure, SA has plenty issues to worry abt & one of them is rising oil & food prices as a result of the conflict in East Europe. To remotely suggest that the DA is doing nothing about domestic issues is just pretence.
— Neo Mkwane (@realNeoM) May 2, 2022
The Cape Flats is a war zone and the government is more concerned about what is happening in Ukraine – people are dying and innocent people are being injured by stray bullets.
— Sheldon Cameron (@sheldon_cameron) May 2, 2022
What are South African politicians doing in Ukraine? To see for yourself? I can give you a local tour of devastation and destruction
— Jonathan Jansen (@JJ_Stellies) May 2, 2022
Steenhuisen with Lviv mayor Andriy Ivanovych Sadovyi, and governer, Maksym Kozytskyy. pic.twitter.com/YuhWnpZqjg
— Athi Mtongana (@Artii_M) May 1, 2022