Recommendations on Putin visit ‘in next week or two’

Putin, who is due to visit the country for the BRICS summit in August, has a warrant of arrest issued against him by the International Criminal Court.

Ntshavheni briefed the media on Thursday on the outcomes of a cabinet meeting that was held on Wednesday.  

The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March for alleged war crimes in Ukraine.  

The South African government has come under pressure to make public its stance on whether it will execute the arrest warrant.  

Ntshavheni says a decision will be communicated once a decision has been made.

"The team is meeting to make recommendations to the cabinet and there is a meeting set to happen sometime this week, if not next week on that matter and those recommendations.

"As indicated previously when there is a decision communicated, we will communicate what is the country's position on the matter.

South Africa is a signatory to the Rome Statute and will be required to arrest Putin if and when he sets foot in the country.

Ntshavheni added that preparations for the BRICS Summit are underway.

"The cabinet continues to prepare for the BRICS summit, we have solidified plans of hosting the BRICS Summit. Earlier this morning (Thursday) the inter-ministerial committee on BRICS was meeting to consider the preparation for us to host the BRICS Summit, when we finalize everything in terms of being considered in cabinet. 

"The minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation will brief in terms of what are the plans that are being laid out without breaching any security concerns."

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