In December 2022, the Lady R unexpectedly docked at the South African Naval Base in Simon’s Town. The vessel was loaded and unloaded under armed guard, with its arrival and departure leaving both South Africa and the international community baffled as to the purpose and cargo of the vessel. Speculation ran rife, with many questioning whether South Africa was clandestinely supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It took two weeks and persistent queries before Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise clarified that the Lady R was, in fact, offloading an old, longstanding order for ammunition. Six shipping containers were reportedly loaded onto the ship before it left, providing some clarity but leaving lingering questions about the nature of the cargo.

Source: Forbes September 09, 2023 13:20 UTC