Themba Godi, President of the African People's Convention, joins RT to make a clear and controversial statement:
Zelensky should not be welcomed in South Africa. 🇿🇦❌
As the Ukrainian leader plans a diplomatic visit, Godi raises urgent questions:
⚠️ What is Ukraine’s real role in African conflicts?
🧩 Is this a genuine partnership — or just another Western proxy agenda?
🔥 This interview cuts through the noise — straight talk on sovereignty, hypocrisy, and Africa’s future on the world stage.
#ThembaGodi #ZelenskyVisit #UkraineInAfrica #SouthAfricaPolitics #RTInterview #AfricanSovereignty #UkraineConflict #GeopoliticsAfrica #NoToZelensky #AfricanUnion #UkraineAgenda #WesternProxy #RussiaAfrica #UkraineWar #SouthAfricaNews #PanAfricanism #GlobalSouth #AfricanPolitics #ZelenskyControversy #AfricaSpeaks
Zelensky should not be welcomed in South Africa. 🇿🇦❌
As the Ukrainian leader plans a diplomatic visit, Godi raises urgent questions:
⚠️ What is Ukraine’s real role in African conflicts?
🧩 Is this a genuine partnership — or just another Western proxy agenda?
🔥 This interview cuts through the noise — straight talk on sovereignty, hypocrisy, and Africa’s future on the world stage.
#ThembaGodi #ZelenskyVisit #UkraineInAfrica #SouthAfricaPolitics #RTInterview #AfricanSovereignty #UkraineConflict #GeopoliticsAfrica #NoToZelensky #AfricanUnion #UkraineAgenda #WesternProxy #RussiaAfrica #UkraineWar #SouthAfricaNews #PanAfricanism #GlobalSouth #AfricanPolitics #ZelenskyControversy #AfricaSpeaks
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NewsTranscript
00:00Let's speak with Temba Ghodi now joining us here on the program, the president of the African
00:04People's Convention now here on RT International. Temba, a very warm welcome to you. Thank you for
00:09sharing your time with us here at RT International. It's great to have you here.
00:14Thank you very much.
00:15You've just seen and listened to this report here. It looks like Zelensky's got his trip
00:20planned to South Africa, but it's kicked off a lot of controversy. I'm wondering where are the
00:25hugs, Temba? When he goes to Europe, he gets hugs all over the place. It's not looking very
00:30BFF right now. What are your thoughts on the matter? Perhaps he deserves a warmer welcome
00:36in South Africa?
00:39No, not really. I think his visit to our country is ill-advised, unnecessary, and it is being
00:48used to try and wiggle his way into the countries of the South that he had ignored and even despised.
01:00Remember the delegation of African leaders that went to Ukraine to talk peace?
01:05Right.
01:05They were treated very shavily at the border in Poland. And even when they were in Ukraine,
01:12there were statements about them coming to discuss issues that they have no capacity to
01:18comprehend. So I wonder what it is that Zelensky will be doing this time around.
01:24Yeah. Isn't it incredible? I mean, as you say, there was also quite a blatant element of racism
01:28in the way the African delegation was treated when they came to this part of Eastern Europe. As you say,
01:34it was not a respectable reception. And a lot of people thought that as well. Now,
01:40President Ramaphosa says that South Africa wants to, quote, enforce the message of peace,
01:45Temba. So what is Zelensky's ultimate goal? Because I know you said he's wriggling his way into
01:51countries of the global South, but there must be more to it, Temba. Maybe he wants something. Is
01:55he arriving with cap in hand, so to speak?
02:00No, not really. I think, look, he has been moving around Europe where he has been welcomed with open
02:08arms because he is their puppet in terms of their geopolitical considerations. But he has
02:16completely ignored the countries of the South who have refused the dictates of Europe and even
02:23America before Trump to toe the line. For us in Africa, the most painful thing about Zelensky is the
02:31fact that the Ukrainian security services are assisting the terrorists in Mali, in Africa, who are killing
02:39hundreds of civilians and causing destabilization. To that extent, we feel he should not be welcomed
02:47into our country. It serves no purpose. The war in Ukraine is a proxy war. There is nothing that
02:54Ramaphosa can do to force the hand of Zelensky. It's only the Americans who can. So if he's interested in peace,
03:03he should be flying to Washington to find common cause with the Americans so that they can bring about peace in
03:10Ukraine and end the killing that's taking place there.
03:13Yeah. Meantime, there are people in the European Union, the people in Kiev who want the conflict to continue.
03:19Meantime, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is right here in St. Petersburg. The Venice of the North in Russia,
03:24meeting with the Russian president. It certainly seems that the American side and the Russian side
03:31are trying to get towards a peaceful resolution, where some other actors are in exactly the opposite
03:37camp. Just briefly, Temba, are you optimistic with the talks that are happening as we speak
03:43in St. Petersburg right now between Witkoff and Putin?
03:46No, very hopeful. I think the Russian side have described their engagement so far to be respectful,
03:55which was completely lacking during the Biden era. I think there will definitely be a restoration
04:03in the relations between America and Russia, and that is good for the world. And I think that will also
04:09force Zelensky, you know, to sue for peace. I think he's coming to South Africa, will not advance the peace
04:15agenda even an inch, because it is more about what him and America, you know, need to do or come around
04:26to understand the root cause of the conflict, as the Russian Federation has always said, and be able to come to some
04:35understanding what agreement to end the fighting that has killed so many people.
04:40Always a voice of reason. Temba Gordi is the president of the African People's Convention, joining us live here on RT International.
04:49A great pleasure for your time and your commentary. Great to see you, Temba. Thank you.
04:53Thank you. Thank you.