JOHANNESBURG—The South African government has stated that any “punitive action” taken against it by the Biden administration for Pretoria’s perceived support of Russia in its war against Ukraine would be based on “hysteria, hearsay, and contempt for South Africa’s sovereignty.”
The reaction comes after four powerful U.S. congressmen from the Democratic and Republican parties wrote a letter to senior Washington officials on June 9 effectively asking U.S. President Joe Biden to retaliate against South Africa.
