Government withdraws International Crimes Bill: The government has withdrawn the International Crimes Bill, which sought to withdraw South Africa from the Rome Statute and repeal its membership of the ICC in favour of immunities for sitting heads of state.
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Justice ministry spokesperson Chrispin Phiri told TimesLIVE various factors were considered, which ultimately informed the decision. The ANC had called for the establishment of an African structure that could hold its leaders accountable rather than always relying on international bodies. Tabling the bill in 2016, then justice minister Michael Masutha said this country's membership of the ICC clashed with diplomatic immunity laws. He dared opposition MPs to give him an example in modern history where a sitting head of state was indicted and put to stand trial under international or domestic law.
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