JAHANNESBURG: President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed a panel to investigate United States allegations that a Russian ship took aboard weapons from a naval base near Cape Town last year.
South Africa has since denied the accusations.
The allegations have caused a diplomatic row between Russia, South Africa and the US, and raised questions about South Africa's non-aligned position on the Ukraine issue.
South Africa says it is impartial and has abstained from voting on resolutions on the war.
The president decided to establish the investigation because of the seriousness of the allegations, the extent of public interest and the impact of this matter on South Africa's international relations, the statement said.
The panel will be chaired by Phineas Mojapelo, former deputy judge President of Gauteng province.
The other two members are Advocate Leah Gcabashe, who was the former evidence leader for a state corruption investigation last year, and Enver Surty, the former deputy minister of basic education. The panel will have six weeks to conduct its investigation.
The terms of reference for the panel include establishing who was aware of the cargo ship's arrival, the contents that were loaded and offloaded, and whether constitutional, legal or other obligations were complied with in relation to the cargo ship's arrival. A final report will be received within two weeks of the investigation, Ramaphosa said.