Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has made a bold statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be arrested if he sets foot in the Western Cape for the upcoming BRICS summit taking place in August 2023.
Alan Winde vows to arrest Putin: Here’s what he said
This comes after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin over war crimes committed during Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.
While the South African government has not taken a stance on whether or not they will arrest Putin, Winde is prepared to take matters into his own hands. He stated that the Western Cape will set its law enforcement officers on him, and if necessary, they will arrest him with or without the instruction of the South African police.
“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 Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers. If the South African Police Service is not instructed to act, we will,” Winde warned.
Winde’s fiery statements came a day after South Africa confirmed its commitment to upholding the Roman Statute as well as its status as an ICC participant.
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya explained in a statement released on Wednesday, 26 April 2023, that the clarification on South Africa’s status as an ICC participant was necessary to correct several erroneous comments “made during a media briefing held by the governing African National Congress (ANC) on South Africa’s status with regard to the ICC.”
“In remaining a signatory to the Rome Statute, South Africa is guided by the importance of strengthening institutions of global governance. Accordingly, South Africa will work to invigorate the Malabo protocol that would establish a continental criminal court that would complement the ICC as a court of last resort.
“Furthermore, South Africa is considering a legislative amendment that would domesticate the Rome statute so that it reflects all the articles of the Rome Statute. This includes provision of article 98 of the statute that requires a waiver of immunities for persons charged by the ICC from third-party countries where there is no referral by the United Nations Security Council.
“The manner in which the UK domesticated the Rome Statute to incorporate the provisions of article 98 has been recommended as a guideline case study,” he said.
Winde, however, has expressed solidarity with the people of Ukraine, stating that arresting Putin would be taking a stand against the brute force unleashed on its civilians by Russia.
He added that Putin had eroded the freedom of the Ukrainian people and Russian citizens who took a principled stand against his brutal actions.
While President Ramaphosa has stated that the matter is under consideration and discussion, Winde believes that the national government wants to push ahead and host President Putin, which he deems unacceptable and deplorable.