VLADIMIR PUTIN may frighten some countries, but Russia gives many South Africans a warm and fuzzy feeling. They remember support in decades past: during apartheid the Soviet Union provided military training and arms to the African National Congress (ANC), as well as to other liberation movements on the continent. Some surprisingly common South African first names—such as Soviet, Moscow and Lenin—are living tributes to these old ties. Sputnik Ratau, born shortly after the first satellite’s launch, is a spokesman for the water and sanitation department. A high school in KwaZulu-Natal is named after Eric Mtshali, a stalwart of the struggle who spent decades in exile and goes by the nickname “Stalin”.
Recently, Russia and South Africa have sought to renew these cold-war-era ties. The two countries are scrapping visa requirements from March 30th, allowing up to 90 days of trouble-free travel. South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, has already developed a taste for Russian holidays. In 2014, after a tiring election campaign, he took a six-day trip with his state security minister that included several days of “rest”. A few weeks later South Africa...Continue reading
Source: Middle East and Africa http://ift.tt/2maHhWA
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