Ramaphosa to Putin - weak economy means South Africa can't sign nuclear deal yet

Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa July 26, 2018. Sputnik/Alexei Nikolsky/Kremlin via REUTERS - Copyright Sputnik Photo Agency(Reuters)

By Reuters

Published on 26/07/2018 - 18:32•Updated 19/04/2024 - 09:44

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JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the issue of a nuclear power deal at a private meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg on Thursday, but his host said Pretoria could not sign such a deal for now, Ramaphosa's spokeswoman said.

"Our economy is stagnant, it is not growing at the rate that we want it to, so while we remain committed to an energy mix that includes nuclear, South Africa is not yet at the point where it is able to sign on the dotted line," Ramaphosa's spokeswoman Khusela Diko said.