SA withdrawing from ICC

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane issued the notice yesterday.

"Written notice to withdraw from the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court has been submitted to the Secretary General of the United Nations. The withdrawal will take effect one year after the Secretary General has received the notification. South Africa will remain obligated under the Rome Statute for the duration of the 12 month notice period," Masutha said.

This comes after South Africa ignored a warrant from the ICC to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir when he attended the African Union Summit in Johannesburg last year.

Many are of the view that the ICC is biased toward African countries, charging leaders from the continent, while ignoring crimes committed by western leaders.

Reaction

ANC stalwart and Rivonia trialist Andrew Mlangeni believes South Africa shouldn't leave the ICC.

He spoke to JacarandaFM News minutes before taking to the golf course for the Andrew Mlangeni Golf Day, aimed at developing young golfers. 

Mlangeni says while he recognises the bias against African leaders, some of them still have cases to answer to.

"People who have become dictators in their own countries, some of our neighbours who are doing things incorrectly, they should appear before court for committing crimes against humanity," Mlangeni said.

Meanwhile, the DA has indicated that it will approach the courts to have the notice of withdrawal to the ICC set aside.

The DA's James Selfe says the decision is unconstitutional, irrational and procedurally flawed.

"Section 231 of the Constitution is clear that binding international agreements become law in the Republic upon ratification by the National Assembly (NA) and the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). It is thus unconstitutional for the Minister to unilaterally exit South Africa from the agreement, without Parliament having repealed the agreement first," Selfe said.

Video by Maryke Vermaak