South Africa is preparing for a possible visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin amid an ongoing controversy over his arrest warrants. As the chair of BRICS, South Africa has invited Putin to attend the summit in August, but the country’s cabinet is discussing legal advice compiled by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on the matter. It is not the first time that South Africa has faced such a situation. Political Science and International Relations Professor Bheki Mngomezulu has commented on this issue via Zoom. The backdrop to the situation is the recent arrest of former South African president Jacob Zuma, who was sentenced to 15 months in prison for contempt of court. Zuma’s legal woes have overshadowed South Africa, and his supporters have called for protests. With Putin’s visit looming, the country faces a crisis of whether or not to grant him immunity, given the outstanding legal issues. There is a great deal of political and legal maneuvering ongoing behind the scenes as the country tries to navigate these delicate and volatile issues.
