Cape Town – Former South African deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe has suggested that the government could use persuasion to dissuade Russian President Vladimir Putin from attending the upcoming Brics summit.
According to News24, Motlanthe cited the example of persuading former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir not to attend former President Jacob Zuma’s inauguration in 2009 due to an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes.
“That is a question that the president should address; what I can say to you is that, in 2009, as we were preparing for the inauguration of former president Jacob Zuma, we had to invite all heads of state in Africa, and that is what we did.
“We advised President Al Bashir that given the fact that we have domesticated the Roman Statute, these are our laws now. If you step here, we would be obliged to arrest you.
“He read the letter, and he sent us a letter of apology. He did not show up, so there is a way that you can handle those situations,” the report quoted Motlanthe as saying on Tuesday at the sidelines of the ANC’s Brics political dialogue in Boksburg, Gauteng.
Motlanthe said that the decision on whether Putin should attend the summit ultimately rests with the government.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been tasked with finding a legal path regarding Putin’s attendance.
VIDEO | Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe says the country must not be pressurised to take sides in the geopolitics. https://t.co/IsfEcrVgmV pic.twitter.com/dUnoGi23jE
— SABC News (@SABCNews) July 18, 2023
South Africa has faced pressure over its geopolitical stance and friendly relations with Russia, and the Democratic Alliance (DA) has sought legal action to compel the government to arrest Putin if he enters the country.
The country’s non-partisan stance on the Ukraine conflict has raised concerns regarding trade agreements, including the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) deal with the United States.
Motlanthe stressed the need to protect trade interests with various countries, including the European Union, the US, and China. Recently, a delegation of government ministers held talks with US representatives to strengthen bilateral relations.
President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed in an affidavit in the High Court in Gauteng on Monday that arresting Putin during his visit to South Africa for the Brics summit would be seen as a declaration of war against Russia.
Ramaphosa initially wanted to keep his affidavit on the matter confidential, but the court ruled that it should be made public.
President Ramaphosa fears that Russia could declare war on South Africa.
This is revealed in the President’s answering affidavit to the DA’s court bid to ensure Russian President Vladimir Putin is arrested during the BRICS summit.
Ramaphosa states that Pretoria has been in… pic.twitter.com/aF3PLgYUqu
— Aldrin Sampear (@AldrinSampear) July 18, 2023
Ramaphosa stated that it would be unconstitutional and unlawful to risk engaging in war with Russia and that his priority is to protect national sovereignty and ensure peace and security.
“It would be a reckless, unconstitutional and unlawful exercise of the powers conferred upon the government to declare war with Russia by arresting President Putin,” Ramaphosa said in his affidavit.
He added: “It would be inconsistent with our Constitution to risk engaging in war with Russia. I have constitutional obligations to protect the national sovereignty, peace and security of the republic, and to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the rights of the people of the republic to life, safety and security, among other rights in the Bill of Rights.”
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Twitter/@MadiBoity
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
