Lamola says SA won't bite its tongue over US invasion of Venezuela

The International Relations Department says it will not abandon its principles over fears of possibly antagonising the United States of America.

The department has condemned the US for what it calls an illegal invasion of Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president, Nicolás Maduro.

Since its invasion of Venezuela, the White House has sent warnings to its adversaries like Cuba and Colombia, saying a similar fate may befall them.

At the same time, diplomatic relations between Washington and Pretoria are at an all-time low, with the US government falsely accusing the South African government of overseeing a genocide of white people.

Speaking on the sidelines of an ANC event in Rustenburg on Monday, International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola says the government won’t bite its tongue to appease the US.

“Obviously it’s unpredictable with us, but South Africa has to continue to stand on the side of principle. International solidarity and collective action are what have brought stability to the world since the Second World War. We can’t be back in a period after the First World War where there were no rules or words based on international law.” Lamola said.