DA leader John Steenhuisen asked Ramaphosa to reconsider his government's position. Steenhuisen was speaking during a debate in Parliament about the Russia Ukraine conflict.

At the same time, the president has called for the dispute to be settled through mediation.

Meanwhile, the EFF is of the view that there is nothing wrong with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

AFP earlier reported China's foreign minister has said his nation does not want to be impacted by Western economic sanctions on Russia, state media reported on Tuesday, as pressure grows on Beijing to withdraw support from an isolated Moscow.

"China is not a party to the crisis, still less wants to be affected by the sanctions," Wang Yi said, according to a readout of a phone call with his Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Albares published on Tuesday.

China has "always opposed using sanctions to solve problems, let alone unilateral sanctions that has no basis in international law, which will... harm people's livelihood in all countries," Wang said according to the readout.

Almost three weeks after Russian troops marched into Ukraine, Moscow's forces have bombarded and besieged several towns and cities.

Fighting has killed thousands and destroyed infrastructure, as well as causing millions to flee the country.

Also read: Elon Musk challenges Putin to fight, with Ukraine as the prize

Wang's comments were published after a seven-hour meeting between high-ranking US and Chinese officials in Rome, at which Washington said the US had expressed concern about the "alignment" between Russia and China.

Moscow and Beijing have drawn closer in recent times, in what Washington sees as an increasingly hostile alliance of the authoritarian nuclear powers. 

eNCA / AFP