Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said in a late-night statement on Tuesday that Ramaphosa had “erroneously affirmed a similar position [to Mbalula’s] during a media session”The move, prompted by the ICC’s issue of an arrest warrant last month for Russian President Vladimir Putin for crimes against humanity, ahead of his planned visit to South Africa later this year, is also likely to worsen tension between this country and Western nations.
Although the proposed legislation will not be law by the time Putin is scheduled to attend the Brics summit in August, its tabling will signal South Africa’s intention to face off with the US, the UK and other powers that have lined up against Russia since it invaded Ukraine in February last year.Get 14 days free to read all our investigative and in-depth journalism. Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. You can cancel anytime and if you cancel within 14 days you won't be billed.