Western Cape ready to arrest Vladimir Putin

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says the province is ready to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin should he decide to visit Cape Town.

The Russian leader is expected to visit South Africa in August for the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit which will take place in Johannesburg.

Winde’s assertion is a strong message to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the African National Congress-led national government: The Western Cape is not confused about the country’s obligations as a signatory to the Rome Statute.

Winde’s comments come after South Africa was left with diplomatic egg on its face when Ramaphosa made a dramatic u-turn on Tuesday on South Africa’s participation in the International Criminal Court (ICC)

In a late-night statement, the Presidency reaffirmed that SA remains a signatory to the Rome Statute of the ICC saying the governing ANC party made an error in its weekend briefing which the president erroneously repeated.

The presidency said the ANC had made the resolution not to leave the ICC at its 55th National Conference held in December.

ALSO READ: International Criminal Court: SA to remain signatory as Presidency concedes Cyril’s gaffe

Western Cape LEAP officers will act if Saps don’t

“This week the president showed absolute confusion over whether or not they intend to have South Africa abandon the ICC to avoid an obligation to arrest Russian President, Vladimir Putin, if he steps on South African soil,” said Winde.

The ICC in March issued an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes committed during Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“Even in the face of this arrest warrant, national government seemingly intends to push ahead and host President Putin at a BRICS summit in South Africa, scheduled for later this year. This is unacceptable and deplorable,” stated Winde.

He added, “Putin has consistently and violently eroded the freedoms of the Ukrainian people and those in his own country who dare take a principled stand against his brutal actions.

ALSO READ: Ukrainian rights activist calls for SA not to allow Putin to attend BRICS

If the Russian leader sets foot in the Western Cape we as the provincial government will have him arrested by our own Western Cape Government funded LEAP officers.

If the South African Police Service is not instructed to act, we will,” the Premier warned.

Failure to arrest Omar al-Bashir

South Africa has in the past violated its agreement with the Rome Statute when it failed to arrest former Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir who was facing charges of genocide and crimes against humanity.

But government has long complained of “double standards” relating to the way in which leaders are indicted.

South Africans on Thursday celebrate Freedom Day; which is itself a reminder of the long, often violent struggle South Africa endured to achieve democracy.

“The Western Cape Government will not only fight for the fundamental rights and freedoms of our
citizens, but is also willing to show solidarity with Ukraine by taking a stand against the brute force unleashed on its civilians by Russia.

I am highly disturbed by how the ANC national government is entirely focused on taking steps to ensure the freedom of Vladimir Putin, instead of focusing on securing freedoms for South Africans, many of
whom are not free from fear, and have yet to achieve economic freedom, 29 years into our democracy,” concluded Winde.

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