The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) said on Monday that its army head, Lawrence Mbatha, is in Moscow to strengthen the two nation diplomatic relationship and for bilateral meetings during which he would visit Russian military colleges and meet with authorities, Reuters has reported.
This was disclosed by the SANDF in a statement, adding that the meeting in Russia was planned well in advance.
"It must be noted that South Africa has military-to-military bilateral relations with various countries in the continent and beyond," the statement mentioned.
Recall that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the country's non-aligned stance did not favour Russia over other governments, and he underlined the country's demand for a peaceful end to the Ukrainian crisis.
The remarks were delivered by Ramaphosa in a weekly presidential newsletter. The US claimed last week that weapons were carried onboard the Russian ship Lady R from a naval base in Cape Town late last year, sparking a diplomatic controversy.
South African officials swiftly rejected claims made by the U.S. ambassador to South Africa, Reuben Brigety, who also said senior U.S. officials had "profound concerns" over South Africa's professed policy of non-alignment and neutrality over Russia's war in Ukraine.
"We do not accept that our non-aligned position favours Russia above other countries. Nor do we accept that it should imperil our relations with other countries," Ramaphosa said.
South Africa will continue to uphold international accords and treaties to which it is a signatory, and its response to US charges of arms shipments would be consistent with them, he said.
According to Ramaphosa's office, no tangible proof has been offered to back the ambassador's claims, but an inquiry led by a retired judge would look into them.
Several ministers, including the one in charge of arms control, a spokeswoman for the foreign ministry, and the communications minister, have stated that South Africa did not sanction any arms transfer to Russia in December.
Brigety was summoned on Friday to meet South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor and he apologised "unreservedly" to the government and the people of South Africa, a foreign ministry statement said.
"I was grateful for the opportunity to speak with Foreign Minister Pandor ... and correct any misimpressions left by my public remarks," Brigety said in a tweet that did not confirm whether he had apologised.
South Africa, which has abstained from voting on U.N. resolutions on Russia's war in Ukraine, says it is impartial.
Western countries, however, consider the country as one of Moscow's closest allies on the continent.