Vladimir Putin could visit South Africa soon and politician claims 'no one is going to arrest him'

Russian President Vladimir Putin could be visiting South Africa in August 2023 to attend the 15th BRICS summit. There seems to be some division in the country about whether authorities will execute the ICC’s arrest warrant against him.

South Africa is aware of 'legal obligation'

The ICC warrant means all 123 countries that have ratified the Rome Statute, including South Africa, must arrest Putin if he enters their territory. Putin has visited eight countries since the war in Ukraine began, of which only Tajikistan has ratified the Rome Statute.

A spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the country is aware of its legal obligation. However, his upcoming visit does put the South African government in a tricky position, which spokesperson Vincent Magwenya seemingly alluded to when he said:

We are, as the government, cognisant of our legal obligation. However, between now and the summit we will remain engaged with various relevant stakeholders.

Read more:

⋙ Former Russian President issues stark warning to this European country if it arrests Putin

⋙ Former Russian President issues ominous threat against the ICC after Putin's arrest warrant

Uncertainty over whether South Africa 'has the guts'

However, Darren Bergman, shadow minister for international relations and co-operation and MP for the country’s opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, emphasised that 'the arrest warrant has been issued, we [South Africa] would be under instruction to arrest him'.

His party has demanded Putin be arrested 'the moment he sets foot on South African soil'.

Bergman is concerned that South Africa could face international repercussions if Putin is allowed to enter the country with no consequences. He said:

We can ill afford sanctions and our country must do anything in its power to ensure citizens are not brought closer to sanctions

Bergman continued to question how his country would really respond, saying 'based on last time, I’m not sure we’d have the guts to [arrest him]'. He’s referring to when the then-President of Sudan, Omar al-Bashir, was able to visit South Africa in 2015 for an African Union meeting, despite the ICC having issued a warrant for his arrest for crimes against humanity.

Bergman said that at that time:

We were in contempt there definitely. We undermined and disrespected the level of intelligence of the international community.

Read more ⋙ Vladimir Putin: Russian citizens promise 'we will protect him' amid arrest warrant

Vladimir Putin is 'welcome' in South Africa

Meanwhile, the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters party, Julius Malema, said at a media briefing on Thursday 23 March that 'Putin is welcome here, and no one is going to arrest him'. He continued:

If needs be, we will go and fetch him from the airport to his meeting, he will address finish all his meetings and we will take him back to the airport.

We are not going to be told by these hypocrites of the International Criminal Court who know the real violators of human rights and the murders of this world.

President Vladimir Putin is welcomed, we know our friends, the people who liberated us, and the people who supported us.

Sources used:

Reuters: 'South Africa aware of legal obligations regarding Putin visit'

inews: 'South Africa divided over Putin’s upcoming visit: ‘We don’t have the guts to arrest him’'

JacarandaFM: 'EFF vows to protect Putin if he attends Brics summit in SA'