South Africa confirmed on Thursday that it will host the BRICS bloc meeting in August, despite rumours that it may relocate to China so Russia’s President Vladimir Putin may attend in a country that won’t jail him for war crimes.
Due to an ICC arrest order for the repatriation of Ukrainian children, South Africa must arrest Putin if he attends the discussions with Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
Putin denies them.
On June 17, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with him in Russia, a longtime friend of the ANC, which fought white minority rule.
“South Africa will host the 15th BRICS Summit at the Sandton Convention Centre in Sandton, Johannesburg, from 22 to 24 August 2023,” the Department of International Relations said.
In a text message to Reuters, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed that the entire meeting, including the BRICS heads of state, would take place in South Africa.
He and an international relations department official declined to say if Putin will attend.
At the end of last month, South African officials stated the BRICS countries were considering shifting the summit to China, a non-member of the international court. Last-minute venue changes are possible.
On Tuesday, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor said Putin hadn’t responded to an invitation issued before the ICC accused him on March 18.
Pandor stated Xi Jinping, Modi, and Lula da Silva will attend.
South Africa claims neutrality in the Ukraine war, but Western governments have criticized it for hosting Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and conducting naval exercises with Russia.