Russian President Vladimir Putin and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during their meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka on 28 June 2019. Picture: Alexander Zemlianichenko / POOL / AFP
The African National Congress (ANC) says it has resolved that South Africa should leave the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The South African government has been criticised for its reluctance to cut ties with Russia due to the war in Ukraine.
The ICC issued an arrest warrant in March for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for the war crime of “deporting” Ukrainian children.
As a member of the ICC, South Africa is obliged to arrest Putin if the Russian president attends the Brics summit later this year.
The country is due to host Brazil, China, India, and Russia at the summit in August.
Speaking at a press conference following a visit by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, President Cyril Ramaphosa said whether Putin will be detained if he arrives in the country was “under consideration and discussion”.
“I have often said when I’m asked [about this] that when the matter is finalised, we will be able to tell everyone what our posture is going to be,” he said on Tuesday.
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The president confirmed that the ANC, which held its national executive committee (NEC) meeting over the weekend, decided that it was “prudent” for South Africa to withdraw from the ICC.
“[The decision was taken] largely because of the manner that the ICC has been seen to be dealing with these types of problems.
“There’s also been commentary from Amnesty International where there’s a reflection on what many people believe is an unfair treatment, and our view that is we would like the matter to be properly discussed, but the governing party has decided once again that we should pull out. So that will be a matter that will be taken forward.”
Ramaphosa’s comments comes as the ANC also voiced its stance on the Russia-Ukraine issue.
In a media briefing on Tuesday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the governing party called on the United Nations (UN) to develop and adopt a peace-plan.
The plan, Mbalula said, must be agreed to by Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato).
“Such a peace must be aimed at ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia by finding lasting solutions that embrace the security of all parties and prevents any further escalation to a wider global war,” he said.
READ MORE: ANC visit evidence of strengthening SA/Russia ties, Putin’s safety
He also addressed the double standards by the United States (US) and other western countries.
“It cannot be good for the United States of America to take a unilateral decision, attack Iraq and Afghanistan, and it is good when it comes to Russia [where] Nato gang up in defense of Ukraine.”
The ANC further reiterated its call for the UN’s Security Council to be reformed.
Mbalula dismissed the suggestion that South Africa was picking sides in the Russia-Ukraine war.
“We are not saying Russia is supreme [and] Ukraine is not. We are saying all the parties must be able to sit down and resolve the conflict. What the Americans are trying to cajole us to is what [George] Bush categorised as ‘you are with us or against us’. That’s what Joe Biden is doing.”
The ANC secretary-general further indicated that South Africa was engaging the US in relation to Russia.
“They had a big problem with us about Russians coming here doing [military] drills with our army. We do those drills with everybody. We have got an envoy that is engaging with them through our government.
“Here at Luthuli House, we will talk to the American Embassy… We are engaging with them. We will talk to Ukraine [and] we will to talk to Russia.
“Russia will talk to them also as our ally [but] it doesn’t mean you agree with your ally on everything. We will tell the Americans that we don’t like this thing of imposing yourself as a white policeman,” Mbalula added.
South Africa had previously sought to withdraw from the ICC in 2016 after a visit by former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was also the subject of an arrest warrant from the Hague-based court.
READ: SA’s stance on Russia could see country lose R400 billion in trade – report
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