South Africa sees Russia as a valued ally, President Cyril Ramaphosa said at a bilateral meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, on the eve of the BRICS summit of emerging economies that will take place in the Russian city of Kazan.

Vladimir Putin met with President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan.

Even though South Africa and Russia don't share cultural or linguistic ties, their relationship remains surprisingly strong, a bond that has left many observers and Western governments puzzled for years.