Africa-Press – South-Africa. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) says the declaration of the BRICS summit as a protected event is a routine procedure and has nothing to do with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
The department declared the upcoming ministerial meeting in Cape Town on 1 to 2 June and 22 to 24 August summit in Johannesburg will be protected events.
It said the declaration was in line with the Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges Act.
This comes as the South African government navigates its legal options should Putin visit the country in August, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant of arrest for him.
“It is normal. It is routine. It’s nothing special. It has nothing to do with the Russian president. This is the gazette of immunities we gazette each time we host an international conference or summit,” he said.
Nicole Fritz said the notice did not override the Rome Statute and the declared diplomatic immunity had no application regarding South Africa’s domestic or international ICC obligations.
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