Malema: If guns were given to Russia, it was a good thing

This comes after the ambassador alleged that  South Africa covertly sent weapons and ammunition to Russia.

Briefing the media on Monday, Malema said that Brigety shouldn't be allowed to continue even a day in South Africa after the allegations.

"He insulted us, he violated diplomatic protocols that's why he was sanctioned.

“A man who speaks like that in the name of diplomacy, you immediately withdraw his credentials," said Malema.

He adds that Brigety's credentials should have been withdrawn.

"There are a lot of protocol channels that are established for those types of concerns.

He could have utilized those channels to go and raise his concerns, but to create such an atmosphere for our country, to create such doubts and smear our country in a manner he did and he still hasn't come out to apologise… that's not the type of guy we need," said Malema.

Although Malema doesn't believe that South Africa has the capability to sell any arms to Russia, he says it would not have been a bad decision for South Africa to support Russia with arms.

“If there were guns that were given to Russia, it was a good thing.

“I would have done the same as a president of the Republic. But I don’t think this one has capacity. Unless you are talking about knobkerries and spears and all those types of things.

“But real, real stuff, I don’t know what it is that Russia doesn’t have which they came here to look for.

“But Russia must be given practical support because when we needed support, they didn’t give us a non-alignment position. They didn’t give us this neutral nonsense position. They gave us arms. That’s how much we relate with Russia," addeds Malema.

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has since confirmed that Brigety apologised for crossing the line with his comments made on Thursday afternoon.

Brigety met with Dirco Minister Naledi Pandor on Friday.

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