News

SA considering legal options in Putin arrest warrant debacle

todayApril 28, 2023 80

Background
share close
Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, will lead the team tasked with the responsibility.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee to look at legal options available for South Africa regarding the ICC’s arrest warrant against Russian President, Vladmir Putin.
Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and South Africa, as a signatory to the Roman Statute, is expected to arrest him should he come for the August Brics summit.

However, conflicting messages from the ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Presidency this week on whether South Africa was considering pulling out of the ICC – caused confusion over Pretoria’s stance on the matter.

Briefing the media today, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, confirmed that South Africa is still a member of the ICC and will be advocating for the consistent application of the international law by the court, which has been a concern for many African countries over years.

Ntshavheni also dismissed claims that arresting the Russian President is the only option Pretoria has on the matter. Her remarks come as the Western Cape Premier Alan Winde threatens to defy national government should it decide not to execute the ICC arrest warrant.

Winde says South Africa’s failure to arrest the Russian president will compromise the country’s global trade relations.

 

Written by: Lindiwe Mabena

Rate it

0%