President Cyril Ramaphosa has labelled the conduct of the American ambassador to South Africa as an attack.

Ramaphosa was speaking at an ANC event in Gauteng, signaling the governing party’s strongest displeasure with Ambassador Reuben Brigety’s comments, which the President labelled as distasteful.

Ambassador Brigety sought to lecture South Africa on its Russia-Ukraine position and further accused South Africa of supplying Moscow with arms.

Pretoria later summoned the ambassador claiming that an apology had been made, with no such sentiment being made public.

The allegations remain untested, and no evidence has been provided in public to back up the claim.

An enquiry led by a retired Judge is due to be established to investigate the matter, with no details yet available on its scope.

Political analyst, Dr Ralph Mathekga says the United States needs to tread carefully, warning that South Africa may well become a lot more vocal about its non-West postures, compromising an ever-concerned Washington about the influence of China and Russia on the African continent.