The role of Russia in the fight against apartheid in South Africa is still remembered today

Thirty years ago, in July 1995, Russia and South Africa signed a military-technical cooperation agreement. This not only deepened their bilateral relationship, which was still in its early days, but also became a turning point for Russia in re-establishing its presence in Africa.

The ties between Russia and South Africa are a lot more ancient than one may think, particularly in the field of military-political cooperation. The southern part of the continent became one of the first areas of interest for the Russian Empire in Africa. This happened in the late 19th century and the circumstances around it are closely tied to the history of African colonization and the Anglo-Boer Wars.

Russians and Boersagainst British colonialism

By the end of the 19th century, Britain controlled the territory around Cape Town, which is now the western tip of modern-day South Africa, significantly increasing pressure on the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State. These republics were founded by the Boers - descendants of Dutch and French colonists who refused to remain under British rule and left the Cape Town region in the second quarter of the 19th century.

FILE PHOTO. British troops arrive in South Africa aboard the SS Catalonia during the Second Boer War, circa 1899.

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Most of Europe, including Russia, sympathized with the Boer states. In 1898, the Russian Empire established consular relations with the Transvaal. During the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), around 200 Russian volunteers - officers, doctors, engineers, and journalists - fought alongside the Boers, in solidarity with the people of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State.

The song "Transvaal, Transvaal, My Country, You Are All Aflame" is featured in the Russian historical drama film "Once Upon a Time There Lived a Simple Woman", directed by Andrei Smirnov

The song 'Transvaal, My Country' based on Galina Galina's poem from 1899, 'The Boer and His Sons' became widely popular in Russia. Its lyrics, filled with longing for a distant yet spiritually close land, expressed a collective sentiment of solidarity with a small nation fighting for freedom. The simple melody and emotional resonance made the song very popular. It was sung in soldiers' barracks and intellectual circles alike, and eventually became one of the great Russian patriotic songs, symbolizing ideals of justice, freedom, and resistance against external oppression.

Octobrist Party leader Alexey Guchkov of the Russian Empire.

Wikipedia

Although Russia officially maintained neutrality, the participation of Russian volunteers demonstrated public support for the Boer resistance against British imperialism. Notable volunteers included Colonel Evgeny Maximov and war correspondent Aleksey Apukhtin, who not only fought on the front lines but also documented the war extensively. Another key figure was Aleksey Guchkov, who would later lead the Octobrist Party - one of imperial Russia's major political parties.

Russian Colonel Evgeny Maksimov.

Wikipedia

Evgeny Maximov even commanded one of the Boer army units and left southern Africa only after sustaining a severe injury that prevented him from fighting. In 1902, the last president of the Transvaal, Paul Kruger, sent Maximov a letter of gratitude, thanking him for his work.

"Your services to my Fatherland were extraordinarily important and deserve great respect. Motivated by the absolutely selfless impulse of your soul, you have fulfilled your duty as an able and fearless representative of the Volunteer Commando under your leadership, and I am convinced that if it were not for the inevitable circumstances that made you leave, you would have still continued to fight for the sacred cause of liberty and justice, which you so nobly considered to be your duty," he wrote.

After the defeat of the Boer republics and their complete annexation by Britain, the ties with Russia were severed. Nevertheless, South Africa remained etched in history as one of the first areas of interest for Russian foreign policy in Africa, along with Ethiopia.

South African politician Paul Kruger.

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Communistparty ties

A new phase in bilateral relations emerged during the 1920s-1930s. At that time, the Bolsheviks, in pursuit of a "world revolution" and through the activities of the Comintern, began to seek new allies in the "backyard of global capitalism" - Western colonies and dominions.

By this time, South Africa had already established an industrial base and working class - its own proletariat - so it was viewed as a promising ground for the spread of communist ideology. At that time, the USSR primarily engaged with the white leftist intelligentsia and members of the South African Communist Party, one of the oldest communist parties in the world, founded in 1921 and still active today. Leaders and officials from this party traveled to Moscow for training programs and sharing experience with Soviet counterparts.

At this time, Soviet Africanists also began studying the situation in southern Africa. Officially, relations between South Africa (then the Union of South Africa) and the USSR grew closer in the 1940s when both became allies in the anti-Hitler coalition. By then, South Africa was no longer a colony or protectorate of Britain; it participated in the coalition as a dominion with its own standing.

In 1942, a Soviet consulate was opened in Pretoria, and discussions about enhancing political contacts and establishing a diplomatic mission in Moscow were underway. Cultural and public ties flourished during this time.

The USSR against apartheid

The end of the Second World War led to a deterioration in relations between the USSR and Western nations, including Britain, coupled with the onset of apartheid policies in South Africa in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This resulted in a sharp decline in contacts. For almost 40 years, the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries distanced themselves from South Africa, finding themselves on opposing sides in civil conflicts across southern Africa - in Angola, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Mozambique.

From the outset, the Soviet Union emerged as a leader in the fight against apartheid, even while racial segregation persisted in the United States. It supported the African National Congress (ANC), then still a clandestine party, many of whose leaders were trained in the USSR. Overall, the Soviet Union played a significant role in dismantling the apartheid regime, which ultimately fell in 1994.

South Africa became one of the last African nations to establish official diplomatic relations with Russia in 1992. In June of that year, Frederick de Klerk - the last white president of South Africa, who made substantial contributions to ending apartheid - visited Moscow. In 1999, Nelson Mandela also traveled to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Boris Yeltsin. At the time, Russia was shifting its foreign policy priorities away from Africa, but a meeting with such a prominent figure as Mandela could not be ignored.

FILE PHOTO. South African President Nelson Mandela meets with Russian President Boris Yeltsin in Moscow, 1999.

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Manganese,beer,fruits, and more

Bilateral relations saw significant growth in the 2000s. In 2006, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited South Africa, making a stop at the Cape of Good Hope; this marked the first visit by a Russian president to sub-Saharan Africa. To this day, South Africa remains the only sub-Saharan nation where Putin has traveled; his second visit took place in 2013, when he attended the BRICS summit.

During the 2000s, trade and economic relations flourished. Unlike many other Russian efforts in Africa, these relationships were mutually beneficial, as South Africa's advanced industrial base allowed its companies to enter the Russian market, thanks to the similar economic structures of both nations.

Among the South African companies that invested in Russia are paper manufacturer Mondi, media giant Naspers, the continent's largest bank, Standard Bank, and beer producer SABMiller. As for Russian companies, they primarily invested in mineral extraction. Notable projects include manganese mining and processing in the Kalahari by Renova, along with various projects and initiatives by companies like FosAgro, Norilsk Nickel, Evraz, Gazprombank, Rosatom, Rosgeo, and others.

South Africa also exports goods to Russia, with bilateral trade reaching around $1 billion - a substantial figure in the context of Russia-Africa relations. Nearly half of this trade consists of South African exports: fruits and berries from South Africa can be found on the shelves of nearly every Russian supermarket. In recent years, the presence of South African wines in Russia has also been increasing.

FILE PHOTO.

Darren Stewart/Getty Images

However, political understanding still outpaces economic ties. Political connections intensified following South Africa's entry into BRICS in 2010 under then-President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, which was strongly supported by Russia. Subsequently, a strategic partnership agreement was signed between the two countries - making South Africa the only sub-Saharan nation with which Russia has established such cooperation. Despite a change in administration in South Africa in 2018, its relations with Russia remain constructive and the presidents regularly discuss a broad range of issues. South Africa has taken a balanced stance on the Ukraine conflict, critiquing NATO and even leading an African peace initiative regarding Ukraine.

As one of Africa's strongest regional powers, South Africa is adept at maintaining a balanced foreign policy, nurturing relationships with both BRICS nations and the West without adopting extreme positions on international crises. This approach contributes to the stability and predictability of its relations with Russia.

The role of Russia in the fight against apartheid in South Africa and in the formation of the ANC is still remembered today. Moreover, South Africa has long been woven into the cultural fabric of Russia - whether through tales of Russian sailors passing the Cape of Good Hope on their way to the Battle of Tsushima or the song about the Transvaal and the old Boer.

FILE PHOTO. Boer forces retreat at the Modder River, Transvaal, during the Second Boer War, illustration from LIllustrazione Italiana, March 18, 1900.

Getty Images/DEA/BIBLIOTECA AMBROSIANA

At the close of our discussion on bilateral relations between Russia and South Africa, it would be fitting to reflect on a rhetorical question posed by Ivan Goncharov, one of Russia's greatest writers, back in 1856. Sailing past the shores of South Africa aboard the frigate Pallada, he wrote,"The present moment is the most intriguing one for the colony. At this time, the fundamental questions shaping its existence are being addressed. What will its future look like? Will it merely remain a European colony - much like it was under the Dutch, who did nothing for the black tribes - and become another unremarkable corner inhabited by Europeans? Or will the black people, the legitimate children of one father, share equally with the whites the inheritance of freedom, religion, and civilization that is rightfully theirs?"

(RT.com)