SA withdrawal from ICC a last resort

Despite continuous threats to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, South Africa will most likely wait before making a decision. 

International Relations Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane on Thursday said South Africa would consult widely before making a decision. 

Managing Director of the Institute for Security Studies Anton Du Plessis said the minister's comments were less aggressive than that of President Jacob Zuma at the AU Summit earlier this month, suggesting SA sees a withdrawal as a last resort.

Zuma told African leaders at the AU Summit in Ethiopia at the weekend that he could't see South Africa keep its membership while the court continues to target African states. 

South Africa, as a member of the ICC, last year failed to deliver Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to the court when he attended the 25th AU Summit in Johannesburg.

Al-Bashir is wanted by the ICC for for alleged atrocities he committed in the Darfur region. 

Shortly thereafter, government and the ANC announced its considering terminating its membership from the court.

Mashabane said government's decision would depend on how not only South Africa, but other African states are treated by the court.

But Du Plessis reckons South Africa is more likely to wait as it is not yet clear which African states will actually withdraw,

"I think South Africa most certainly doesn't want to be the first African country to pull out of the ICC, so I think they will try and take the wait-and-see approach," said du Plessis.

34 of Africa's 54 states are currently party to the Rome Statute.

(File photo: Gallo Images)