I will make the announcement on Putin's attendance - Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa says he will make the announcement in due course on whether or not Russian President Vladimir Putin will be attending the BRICS summit.
Ramaphosa was answering media questions during the state visit by Portugal President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in Pretoria on Tuesday.
Putin is amongst the BRICS leaders expected to attend the summit due to be held in Johannesburg.
South Africa is set to host the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China at the 15th BRICS Summit from 22 to 24 August.
Ramaphosa has been under immense pressure to decide on Putin's attendance after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Putin’s arrest.
He has been accused of human rights violations in the war in Ukraine.
South Africa, as a signatory to the Rome Statute and a member of the ICC, would have to oblige and arrest Putin should he arrive in the country.
Ramaphosa told the media on Tuesday that he will make his decision after receiving a report from the inter-ministerial committee dealing with the matter.
He confirmed that the committee met on Monday under the leadership of Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Ramaphosa also confirmed that he was aware of the court application by the Democratic Alliance, compelling the government to arrest Putin if he lands on SA shores.
“I have noted that some people have gone to court, but in the end matters of conducting foreign policy and matters of inviting whoever, like we invited president De Sousa, is a function of the executive.
It’s not the function of other people outside the executive. It is the government, it is the president who invites other heads of state. That function is not devolved to any other person,” said Ramaphosa.
He assured South Africans that the matter will be well handled.
“The inter-ministerial committee met yesterday (Monday) and obviously they are still finalising their minutes and their report and the report will be presented to the appropriate structure, me first and thereafter it will either go to Cabinet tomorrow or another day.
So let's wait for the normal course of things before spreading rumours and untruths.
What I can guarantee is that this matter will be well handled and I will make the announcement,” added Ramaphosa.
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