ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has reiterated that the ANC will welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin with open arms if he comes to South Africa to attend the Brics summit in August. Share your thoughts on this.
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has reiterated that the ANC will welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin with open arms if he comes to South Africa to attend the Brics summit in August.
Two months ago, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant of arrest for Putin on charges of war crimes, leaving South Africa in a predicament as the country is a signatory to the Rome Statute. Because it is a signatory, South Africa is bound by law to arrest Putin if he sets foot in the country.
In 2015, South Africa ignored the statue when former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir visited South Africa, which was obligated to arrest and surrender him to the ICC related to a warrant of arrest on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The Supreme Court of Appeal subsequently ruled that the failure to arrest al-Bashir was unlawful.After the warrant of arrest against Putin was issued, Ramaphosa delegated his deputy, Paul Mashatile, to handle the matter.
Mbalula, meanwhile, said they are not sure whether Putin would even attend the meeting, as this had not been officially confirmed,"but, as the ANC, we will like the government to take the lead and handle the matter", adding that they do not want government to break any laws.In anticipation of Putin’s visit, the DA has filed court papers at the Pretoria High Court to force government to arrest Putin should he visit the county.
Responding to suggestions that the US was threatening to impose sanctions against South Africa should the country fail to arrest Putin if he visits, Mbalula said the ANC would defend any penalties imposed on the basis of South Africa's non-aligned stance regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine.No country can force us to take sides in the Russia-Ukraine war on the basis that we have decided to take a neutral position.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ace Magashule's days in the ANC are numbered, as NDC recommends expulsion | City PressFormer ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule has fourteen days to challenge the party about its intention to expel him.
Read more »
From weapon smuggling claims to ‘anarchist’: inside Steenhuisen and Mbalula's Lady R war of wordsJohn Steenhuisen told an American broadcaster that for the past year and a half, the DA has suspected the South African government has been supplying weapons to Russia for its war with Ukraine.
Read more »
From weapon smuggling claims to ‘anarchist’: inside Steenhuisen and Mbalula's Lady R war of wordsJohn Steenhuisen told an American broadcaster that for the past year and a half, the DA has suspected the South African government has been supplying weapons to Russia for its war with Ukraine.
Read more »
Mbalula: We want load-shedding goneANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula is sticking by his guns that rolling blackouts will soon be a thing of the past.
Read more »
We don't owe R102m, this is fraud, says Fikile Mbalula on ANC asset attachment order | News24ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the ANC does not owe R102 million to a KwaZulu-Natal branding company for election material despite a court-issued sheriff's order attaching the party's assets to recoup the funds. | ZintleMahlati
Read more »
War in Ukraine | ANC stands by non-aligned approachANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula says the party's national working committee stands by the non-aligned stance on the war in Ukraine.
Read more »