By Zukile Majova
The road for Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to South Africa appeared to be paved in gold this week, with International Relations Minister Naledi Pandor affirming diplomatic immunity to guests attending the BRICS summit.
International Relations spokesperson Clayson Monyela said the gazetting of the diplomatic immunities was “routine” when the country is hosting an international summit.
“This is a standard conferment of immunities that we (and all countries) do for all international conferences and summits held in South Africa irrespective of the level of participation.
“This was done for the hosting of the WSSD, UNFCCC and AU Summits. The immunities are for the conference and not for specific individuals,” said Monyela.
He said the immunities do not override the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court.
The ICC in The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for Putin for allegedly overseeing the abduction of Ukrainian children.
The only time arrest warrants have been issued for sitting presidents were for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and the Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir.
Earlier in the week, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula said the ruling party would welcome Putin’s visit to South Africa but was frustrated by the ICC warrant of arrest.
Meanwhile, the DA has launched a court application in the Gauteng High Court to force President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to arrest Putin if he arrives in the country.
“The DA is launching this action to avoid a repeat of the Al-Bashir saga when the South African government failed to uphold its duty to make an arrest in 2015.
“This peremptory court action aims to ensure that South Africa upholds its obligations in terms of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, and the Implementation of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Act 27 of 2002 (Implementation Act),” said DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach.
Pictured above: Vladimir Putin
Image source: Twitter
