Billboards erected calling on Ramaphosa to arrest Putin

The Russian leader is due to visit the country during the BRICS summit in Johannesburg. 

The summit is due to take place in August.

The South African government is yet to make a decision on Putin's attendance amid the International Criminal Court’s warrant of arrest against him.

Putin has been accused of human rights violations in the war in Ukraine.

South Africa is set to host the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China at the 15th BRICS Summit from 22 to 24 August.

The two billboards were revealed at the end of May after a petition calling for the arrest of Putin garnered more than 500,000 signatures. 

The organisation's Ruth Delbaere says the billboards were specifically erected in prominent locations on highways connecting Pretoria and Johannesburg.

"They are designed to be seen by droves of commuters and cabinet members, who frequently use those highways to commute between their homes or the airport and the Union Buildings, which is President Ramaphosa’s office."

Delbaere says if Putin is able to visit South Africa without being arrested it will be a victory for impunity everywhere.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian activist and head of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Center for Civil Liberties, Oleksandra Matviichuk, believes South Africans know better than anyone what it means to fight for freedom. 

"This is why so many Ukrainians are looking to South Africa to stand with us as we fight for the freedom of our country, and of the thousands of Ukrainian children stolen by Russia. 

"If Putin travels to South Africa, we urge President Ramaphosa to honour its proud legacy and arrest this wanted war criminal, show that South Africa stands on the side of the oppressed, not the oppressors," says Matviichuk.

Another organisation that supports the campaign is the Legal Resources Centre.

The organisation's Sherylle Dass has called on the South African government to comply with the ICC warrant.

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