The South African government is divided over the visa accord with Ukraine.
Leon Schreiber, the president's opponent and South Africa's home affairs minister, described Ukraine as a "valued ally" when he announced the agreement on Sunday.
Schreiber, however, has come under fire from the government for announcing the deal without official permission from President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Although South Africa has maintained its neutrality on the Ukrainian conflict, many view the agreement as an insult to the nation's long-standing ties with Russia.
Regarding the nation's relationship with Russia, the African National Congress (ANC) and its biggest coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), have diverged significantly.
After losing its majority in the general election held in May, the ANC—which has controlled South Africa since the end of apartheid thirty years ago—had to make an agreement with other political parties.
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Ramaphosa recently infuriated the DA by referring to Russia as a "valued friend" at the Brics summit in Kazan. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has already drawn criticism from the DA.
"I have signed a historic agreement that allows Ukrainians with diplomatic, official, and service passports to enter our country without a visa, and vice versa," Schreiber wrote on X.
In defense of the ruling, the minister cited Ukraine's assistance to South Africa in its fight against apartheid.
However, the administration retaliated, claiming that Schreiber's announcement was premature since he lacked the president's approval.
Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for Ramaphosa, replied on X, "It is unclear how the minister can announce the signing of an international agreement without prior formal authorization to do so."
Ronald Lamola, the minister of international relations, hosted Ukrainian colleague Andrii Sybiha on Monday and stated that the agreement has not yet been finalized and signed.
"Once all the diplomatic processes have been concluded, the agreement will be signed and we will announce once all those processes have been followed," Lamola stated.
Leigh-Ann Mathys, spokesman for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), an organization that is not affiliated with the coalition government, denounced the agreement as a "betrayal" of South Africa's friendship with Russia.
Ramaphosa has also been advised not to sign the deal by uMhkonto weSizwe (MK), the new opposition party led by former President Jacob Zuma.
The MK party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, told local media that the arrangement with Ukraine was intended to allow the racist, pro-white imperialist DA to "evacuate" defeated right-wing Ukrainians to South Africa.
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