Ramaphosa condemns US action in Venezuela, demands release of Maduro, and his wife

African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa has strongly condemned the United States’ actions in Venezuela, saying South Africa “utterly rejects” Washington’s conduct and calls for immediate release of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Speaking at the 31st annual Joe Slovo commemoration held at Avalon Cemetery in Soweto on Tuesday,  Ramaphosa said South Africa demanded the immediate release of Maduro and his wife, following their detention by US forces.

Joe Slovo, a former housing minister and commander of the ANC’s armed wing, Umkhonto weSizwe, died on January 6, 1995. 

Ramaphosa praised Slovo as an internationalist who fought not only for the liberation of South Africans, but for oppressed people across the continent and the world.

“He did not only fight for the liberation of the people of South Africa, but for the people of our continent and for people across the world,” Ramaphosa said.

He said Slovo’s principles continued to guide the ANC’s international outlook.

“It is this principle that continues to guide our international work, inspired by the views, the principles and the positions that comrade Joe Slovo took,” he said.

Ramaphosa said this informed South Africa’s solidarity with the people of Palestine, Western Sahara and Cuba, and with all communities denied their right to self-determination.

“The principle guides our support for the United Nations Charter and the need for international law as a foundation for relations between nations,” he said.

He said South Africa had stood firm with the people of Gaza amid what he described as a “genocidal onslaught” causing widespread suffering and death, and with the people of Sudan as civil conflict continued to drive mass displacement and loss of life.

Turning to Venezuela, Ramaphosa said South Africa was deeply concerned by US actions, which he said undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a UN member state.

“We reject utterly the actions that the United States has embarked upon and stand with the people of Venezuela, and we demand the release of President Maduro and his wife as well,” he said.

Ramaphosa said the ANC’s national executive committee had issued a statement on Monday rejecting developments in Venezuela and calling for Maduro’s immediate release.

He also called on the UN Security Council to act decisively to fulfil its mandate of upholding international law and maintaining peace and security.

Ramaphosa said global instability, climate change and widening inequality underscored the need for a world order based on justice and equality.

“As we say in the strategy and tactics document of the African National Congress, we seek to build a society based on the best in human civilisation, founded on political equality and social inclusivity,” he said.

Earlier at the commemoration, SA ambassador to Venezuela, Carlos Feo Acevedo, accused the United States of “imperialist” and “colonialist” aggression.

He praised Pretoria for condemning Washington’s actions and for calling an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council, saying South Africa’s position was consistent with international law and the UN Charter.

“We appreciate this great position,” Acevedo said. 

“It is in keeping with the principles of South Africa – respecting international law, the UN Charter and the legal framework that allows countries to live in peace and community.”

Acevedo claimed that a US military operation in Venezuela two days earlier involved airstrikes on Caracas and resulted in the deaths of Venezuelan military personnel, including members of the presidential security team. 

He said that Maduro and Flores had been kidnapped during the operation.

“Yes, we have been struck, we have been hit, we have been humiliated,” he said. “But we are not defeated. We will never be defeated.”

He said Venezuela’s institutions remained intact and that public morale was strong, vowing continued resistance to US pressure.

“They cannot rule our country, they cannot rule our oil, they cannot decide on our land or our mineral resources,” he said. 

“The Bolivarian revolution is still going on and growing stronger.”

Maduro, 63, appeared in a New York federal court on Monday, where he pleaded not guilty to charges including drug trafficking, two days after being detained by US forces in a raid on his home in Caracas.

“I’m innocent. I’m not guilty,” Maduro told the court through an interpreter, saying he had been captured at his residence on Saturday and brought to the United States against his will.

Flores also pleaded not guilty. A judge ordered the couple held in custody and set a further hearing for 17 March.

US officials said the operation was backed by warplanes and naval forces. 

Maduro’s former deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, has since been sworn in as interim president.

US President Donald Trump previously said the United States was now “in charge” of Venezuela and intended to take control of the country’s oil industry. 

He ruled out new elections in the near term and said Washington would work with Rodríguez’s administration if it complied with US demands on oil policy.

The United States and the European Union have long accused Maduro of rigging elections, jailing political opponents and overseeing widespread corruption, including allegations linked to Venezuela’s 2024 elections.

simon.majadibodu@iol.co.za

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