“Sadly, Russia does not want peace. It wants more land (as if it does not have enough). It wants more power. It wants a bigger piece of the global pie, starting with Ukraine. 

As Putin says: “There is no end to Russia’s borders.” The only way to stop this insanity is for the sane nations of the world that respect international law to hold together.

Europe and the Global South, Ukrainians and Africans, we might be different. We have different historical backgrounds and skin colours but there is something more important that connects us: we do not attack our neighbours. 

We respect borders. We believe in freedom, kindness and hard work instead of worshipping the “dear leader”, soaking land in the blood of others and looting their homes.

Therefore, my appeal to South Africans is this: Thank you to those who understand and help. 

And to those who believe what Russia says, please look at what Russia does. Because what it does to Ukraine is not that different from what other empires in other time periods did to you. Please feel our pain. Forgive us for every time we did not feel yours…”.