Ramaphosa: Govt still discussing Putin visit
President Cyril Ramaphosa hosted his Namibian counterpart President Hage Geingob for an official state visit at the Union Buildings on Thursday.
It was the first state visit by a Namibian head of state to South Africa since former president Hifikepunye Pohamba’s visit in 2012.
“Why only in South Africa? They are targeting you,” said Geingob jokingly when asked about Russian President Vladimir Putin attending a BRICS summit in South Africa in August.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
Government has come under pressure to make public its stance on whether it will execute the arrest warrant.
Putin is due to visit the country for the BRICS summit in August and South Africa is a signatory of the Rome Statute.
“As the chair of BRICS, naturally we issue invitations to all the BRICS members and they will indicate whether they are able to come or not," said President Ramaphosa.
“We have noted what the ICC has said in relation to President Putin and we are still discussing this matter. We are waiting for all the BRICS members to indicate whether they are going to come or not and the matter is still being discussed."
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