Presidential security adviser Sydney Mufamadi has distanced himself from a White House statement that signalled that SA had changed its language in relation to the conflict in Ukraine and hardened its attitude towards Russia’s actions.

According to details of a call between Mufamadi and his US counterpart, Jake Sullivan, published by the White House on Monday, they highlighted the “need for an immediate end to Russia's aggression”,  language that SA had avoided up to that point, as it took a “neutral stance”...