South Africa: Putin's presence at the BRICS summit is still under discussion

South African authorities are working on the issue of Russian President Vladimir Putin's personal attendance at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, the South African government is able to "deal with this problem," said Fikile Mbalula, secretary general of the ruling party in South Africa, National Congress African (ANC). "The government is working on the issue of whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally come to the BRICS summit. We will let the government deal with this issue and leave it in the safe hands of the president (Cyril Ramaphosa)," he said Mbalula after the meeting of the National Executive Committee of the ANC.

The secretary general of the ruling South African party noted that South Africa is a member of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and should understand its obligations. "But the government is capable of resolving this issue and we leave it in good hands," Mbalula added. Earlier, South Africa's vice president's spokesman said Ramaphosa is directly discussing ICC issues ahead of the BRICS summit with Putin. Ramaphosa had previously noted that the BRICS summit would be held in person, and local media, quoting the head of the BRICS Business Council, Nicolao Stavros, had reported that the heads of all five states in the association were expected at the summit. The representative of the office of the President of South Africa Vincent Magweyia urged to wait for the statement of the head of the country on the issue of inviting Russia to the BRICS summit. In addition, South African Vice President Paul Mashatile told the Mail and Guardian that Russia would reject the proposal by the South African authorities to send Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the BRICS summit in Putin's place. Mashatile noted that Ramaphosa's decision on the issue of Russia's invitation should be announced this week.