Cape Town – ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, has reportedly suggested that the South African government may reconsider its invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the upcoming Brics summit in August.
Mbalula suggested that South Africa’s international obligations as a signatory to the Rome Statute, which issues international arrest warrants, might prompt the withdrawal of the invitation.
Putin is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over accusations that Russia unlawfully deported Ukrainian children.
As a member of the ICC, with strong trade and economic relations with the United States and Europe, South Africa would be expected to arrest him if he sets foot in the country.
According to The Citizen, Mbalula told Sunday Times that Putin “should not feel belittled” if the invitation is withdrawn.
“Russia must not feel belittled if it so happens that their president does not come because South Africa is a signatory to the ICC. It is what it is. They can still participate in the Brics forum and that’s what’s important, so it shouldn’t change anything,” Mbalula was quoted as saying.
The ANC is seeking to amend certain sections of the Rome Statute to address waivers for visiting dignitaries like Putin, although these changes may not be implemented before his visit, Mbalula said.
Sunday Times Interview:
On President Putin attending the BRICS Summit. The matter is handled by government and any communication will emanate from government channels. pic.twitter.com/qMZDK24cnt
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Cde Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) June 4, 2023
He said, however, that the matter is being handled by the government and any communication will emanate from government channels.
“We have said government handled this matter in terms of the law… We are guided by the law. We are the signatories of the Rome Statute which bind us in terms of these issues.
“So, we as the ANC, we will want to amend certain sections of the Rome Statute to address the waiver for people of President Putin who come to our country so that they should be accepted,” Mbalula said.
During a media briefing on Wednesday last week, Mbalula expressed that while the South African government valued the idea of hosting Putin for the Brics summit, his attendance would put the government in a challenging situation, Jacaranda FM reported.
“We don’t expect our government to do anything illegal and to break the law. If there are other means necessary to get President Vladimir Putin to participate in the Brics summit, either virtual or another way, our government can do it.
“But by now we expect our government to have explained our situation as the host country to Russia, through the diplomatic channels, our predicament in terms of this matter of president Putin coming to our country, and us being the signatory to the Rome Statute. It means if he comes to South Africa we have to act.
“And we are not going to be party, as a country, to arresting a president coming to our country.
“We expect the government to lead on this matter, and we expect by now Russia should know that South Africa as a country and as a signatory is a constraint.
“We don’t have clarity whether he is coming to South Africa or not. If in the legal prescripts, there is a possibility to get president Putin to come to the summit, we don’t have a problem with that,” the report quoted Mbalula as saying.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
