Cape Town – Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor says Cabinet is set to meet to discuss the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“South Africa will have to look at existing provisions of our legislation. We also have to, I think, have a discussion as Cabinet as well as with our colleagues in Russia, in the Russian Federation, and really determine the way forward. We’ve not had such a discussion as yet,” said Pandor after a meeting with her Sri Lankan counterpart in Pretoria on Wednesday.
Last week, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of committing war crimes in Ukraine.
While not much is expected out of the warrant of arrest, as the ICC has no powers to arrest suspects without the co-operation of a country’s government, the move could affect Putin’s international travels, BBC reported
He can be arrested at any of the court’s 123 member states if he set foot, the report said.
International Relations & Cooperation Minister Dr Naledi Pandor talks on the ICC arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin is expected to visit South Africa in August for BRICS Summit. South Africa would have to oblige to the ICC warrant.pic.twitter.com/Lg4TeuJV64
— Ofentse Donald Davhie (@donalddavhie) March 22, 2023
Putin is expected in the country later this year when South Africa hosts a summit of the heads of state of the Brics countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
South Africa is a signatory of the Rome Statute and, therefore, has the responsibility to execute an ICC arrest warrant, if the person against whom it is issued sets foot in South Africa, the report said.
According to Times Live, Pandor slammed ICC’s decision and said:
“We had hoped that other forms of warrants would be issued by the ICC because there are many countries and leaders who have practised very serious abuses in situations of conflict but they remain unscathed in terms of the ICC.”
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She added: “Obviously this is a very serious decision by the ICC. We are a member state that has signed on to the ICC. Many countries which should sign on are not members of it.
“This is a worrying aspect which we have raised previously.”
The presidency said last week that it had noted Putin’s warrant of arrest and was consulting with various stakeholders on the issue.
“We note the reports on the warrant of arrest that the ICC has issued against President Putin. It remains South Africa’s commitment and very strong desire that the conflict in the Ukraine is resolved peacefully through negotiations.
“We are, as a government, cognisant of our obligation. However, between now and the summit, we will remain engaged with various relevant stakeholders with respect to the summit and other issues related,” Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.
However, Magwenya said he didn’t want to “speculate against scenarios” that may not necessarily arise as he was informed that there hadn’t even been invitations sent to the Brics heads of state.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
