President Cyril Ramaphosa is taking a wait-and-see approach on the outcome of the Ugandan elections, which resulted in Yoweri Museveni being declared president for a sixth term.
"We have been loathe to make quick judgements and are paying close attention to the situation," International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor told an online briefing on South African foreign policy hosted by Chatham House.
"You would see for example that no statement has been issued as yet by South Africa," she said. She added:
It has been reported that, a week after the elections in Uganda, opposition candidate and musician Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, is still confined to his house, which has been surrounded by security forces.
Day Six under house arrest and we're still stuck with an 18 months old baby who had paid a visit to her auntie (my wife ) be4 we were raided & besieged. The Dad has been denied access to her. We have run out of food and milk. No one is allowed to leave or come into our compound. pic.twitter.com/KVLDR3IH6y
— BOBI WINE (@HEBobiwine) January 19, 2021
Museveni received more than 58% of the vote and Kyagulanyi 35% in what the latter claimed was a rigged election, which saw 54 of his campaign team killed by security forces.
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The elections has been criticised by countries like the US, which said the "unlawful actions" of harassing opposition campaigners and shutting down the internet as well as Kyagulanyi's "effective house arrest" continue "a worrying trend on the course of Uganda’s democracy".
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