President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) that will be chaired by Deputy President Paul Mashatile to consider various options on the International Criminal Court (ICC) matter.

South Africans are waiting to hear whether Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is wanted by the ICC, will be attending the upcoming annual Brics Summit in South Africa, and if the South African government will abide by the ICC warrant and arrest him.  

South Africa reaffirmed its participation in the ICC, and confirmed that it remained a signatory to the Rome Statute following recent controversy and confusion on the issue. 

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni explained that South Africa will continue to advocate for strengthening institutions of global governance, and will also continue to campaign for equal and consistent application of international law.

Earlier this week, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya affirmed South Africa’s position as a signatory of the Rome Statute. 

This clarification followed an error in a comment made during a media briefing held by the governing African National Congress (ANC) on South Africa’s status with regard to the ICC.

The President erroneously affirmed a similar position during a media briefing.

Magwenya said that South Africa remains a signatory to the ICC in line with the resolution of the 55th National Conference of the ANC, held in December 2022, to rescind an earlier decision to withdraw from the ICC.

ELECTORAL AMENDMENT BILL

Meanwhile, Cabinet acknowledged the signing into law of the Electoral Amendment Bill of 2022 by Ramaphosa.

The updated legislation provides the legal certainty required to prepare the country for the 2024 General Election, said Ntshavheni.

She explained that the amended Electoral Act provides for the inclusion of independent candidates as contesters to elections in the National Assembly and provincially.  

The Bill expands electoral participation and leadership choices for the citizens of South Africa beyond political parties in the National Assembly and provincial legislatures. 

However, political parties expressed disappointment with the Bill, with the Democratic Alliance (DA) saying the legislation fails on the grounds of fair participation by independent candidates as well as general proportionality.

The Bill was meant to facilitate the participation of independent candidates in national and provincial elections in a way that general proportionality is retained.

Instead, the DA explained that the ANC twisted the seat allocation system in such a way that the lion's share of wasted votes go to the ANC.