Cape Town – The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) has reportedly said that the declaration of the Brics summit as a protected event is a standard procedure and unrelated to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The upcoming ministerial meeting in Cape Town on 1 to 2 June and 22 to 24 August summit in Johannesburg have been declared protected events in accordance with the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act.
According to News24, Dirco said this declaration is not specifically related to Putin’s potential visit to South Africa in August, following the International Criminal Court’s issuance of a warrant for his arrest on charges of war crimes related to the alleged abduction of children from Ukraine.
South Africa, as a signatory to the Rome Statute of the ICC, is obligated to act on the arrest order.
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Dirco spokesperson Clayson Monyela clarified that the declaration of immunity is a routine gazette issued for all international conferences and summits hosted by South Africa and does not pertain specifically to the Russian president.
“That is a routine gazette we do each time we host an international conference or summit. It was gazetted today [Monday] because there is a meeting of the BRICS foreign ministers this weekend or this week in Cape Town, and we also included the summit taking place in August.
“It is normal. It is routine. It’s nothing special. It has nothing to do with the Russian president. This is the gazette of immunities we gazette each time we host an international conference or summit,” the report quoted Monyela as saying.
President Cyril Ramaphosa recently said that Putin’s visit to South Africa is still “under consideration”.
“We have noted what the ICC has said in relation to President Putin. And we ourselves are still discussing this matter.
“It is a matter that is still under consideration. We await all the Brics members on whether they are coming or not,” Ramaphisa said.
Ramaphosa says BRICS extends invitations to all the member states. “We have noted what the ICC has said in relation to President Putin and we are still discussing this matter. It’s a matter that is still under consideration.” @TimesLIVE pic.twitter.com/s0MzSi5TN3
— Amanda Khoza – The Journalist (@MandaKhoza) April 20, 2023
Meanwhile, the South African Defence Force has said that it will not arrest Putin if he lands in the country for the Brics Summit.
Speaking during an interview with eNCA, SANDF chief Rudzani Maphwanywa said on Monday that the defence force does not have the power to arrest Putin.
The SANDF says it will not arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he comes to SA for the BRICS Summit. SANDF chief Rudzani Maphwanywa says the defence force does not have the power to arrest Putin. #DStv403 pic.twitter.com/koq2MnqzP5
— eNCA (@eNCA) May 29, 2023
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
