Pretoria could be forced to arrest the Russian president in respect of its obligations vis-à-vis international justice, in particular the Rome Statute. The government of Cyril Ramaphosa does not hide its concern.

Since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant on March 17 against Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine, all eyes have been on South Africa.

A question is on everyone’s lips: will the head of the Kremlin expected on August 24, 2023, on the sidelines of the work of the 15th BRICS summit be handed over to international justice?

This move remains hypothetical. But the subject is the object of tension within South African power.

The arrest warrant “is obviously a matter of concern” declared Naledi Pandor, the South African Minister for International Relations and Cooperation, on March 24.

South Africa has been a signatory to the Rome Statute since 1988. Nelson Mandela was then president.

The authorities have been recalling for several days both South Africa’s position of non-alignment on the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and its attachment to the principle of legality as a state.

The imbroglio is therefore currently under discussion on the legal side. “We are awaiting a legal opinion on the matter,” said Minister Naledi Pandor in particular.

The Omar al-Bashir case

In June 2015, the visit of Omar Al-Bashir, then President of Sudan, shook the country. He was under two arrest warrants from the ICC for genocide and crimes against humanity.

Ten days before the 25th African Union summit, the government of then President Jacob Zuma had provided all its hosts with written assurances that they would be covered by the diplomatic immunity attached to their office. But as this summit of heads of state opened in Johannesburg, three judges of the High Court of Pretoria, seized of a complaint by the organization South Africa Litigation Center (SALC), had ordered to prevent any departure of the Sudanese President, time to deliberate.

Twenty-four hours later, they demanded the arrest of Omar Al-Bashir. But the former president was already on a plane to Khartoum.

The judges of the CP had then summoned South Africa to explain itself in The Hague. Civil society had accused the government of ignoring the decisions of its own judges.

Since the launch of the arrest warrant on March 17, the ruling party – the ANC – has so far not spoken. He leaves it to the government to find a way out.

For its part, the opposition asked the head of state to refuse to welcome Vladimir Putin.

Like the 123 members of the Court, South Africa has ratified the statute of the ICC and would therefore, according to its judges, have the obligation to execute all its arrest warrants. The question is nonetheless divisive.

Some claim that a country must respect the immunity of heads of state who have not joined the Court. And this is the case of Russia.

World Bank President David Malpass told a press conference in Niamey on Thursday that security and energy were “indispensable for development” in the Sahel, at the end of a two-day visit to Niger which is ranked among the poorest in the world.

“Today, energy is very important. We are the country with the lowest rate of electrification per capita. We are lagging far behind even in comparison with African countries. The fact that the World Bank is concentrating on this area is already something that is completely in line with our wishes. That is why I said that their commitment is in line with the priorities we have defined,” expressed Mohamed Bazoum , President of Niger.

The challenge of education was also highlighted in Niger which faces regular and deadly attacks by jihadist groups.

“Niger faces climate changes, the challenges from its borders and also very importantly the education challenge which is so huge. Niger has great opportunity and that is what we should seize on the opportunity to improve things,” concluded David Malpass.

Speaking in Niger, David Malpass defended his record for funding support for developing countries since becoming president of the Washington-based organisation and said further increases would probably be announced at the Bank’s spring meeting next month

Ghana’s central bank has warned the general public to stop using cedi banknotes as bouquets and hampers when gifting people.

The central bank of Ghana has just issued a warning to the public to refrain from using cedi banknotes as decorations in bouquets and hampers when presenting gifts to others.

It said the currency was issued to be used as a medium of exchange for the purchase of goods and services.

The Director of the Currency Department at the central bank, Mr. Dominic Owusu, said on (Thursday, March 30, 2023) that any other use of the currency was illegal and subject to prosecution, a graphic online reported.

He said the bank had noticed that some people were using the cedi notes as bouquets and hampers as gifts during weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations, a practice he said must be stopped.

He added that defacing or damaging currency notes not only violates the law but also increases the likelihood of spoiling or damaging them.

This not only incurs a replacement cost but also adversely affects the operations of the Central Bank.

Mr Owusu was speaking to journalists on how to preserve the currency as part of events marking Ghana month in March.

Mr. Owusu’s statements shed light on the detrimental effects of the improper handling of currency notes, which not only affects the economy but also the daily lives of the Ghanaian people. The Central Bank urges the public to cooperate and take responsibility to ensure the longevity of currency notes in circulation.

A decade ago, just before Valentine’s Day, everything changed on the day he killed his girlfriend.

The former Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius is now halfway through his prison sentence and will soon be set for possible parole.

A committee is meeting in Pretoria on Friday to decide whether to release the 36-year-old former stadium king, who has had both legs amputated and was convicted of the February 2013 murder of Reeva Steenkamp, the South African justice department and prison service said.

The decision of the committee, which includes representatives of the prison service, the police and civilians, is expected in the coming days, after deliberation. Under South African law, a convicted person can be granted a suspended sentence once half of his sentence has been served.

Oscar Pistorius, sentenced on appeal to 13 years and 5 months in prison in November 2017, has been eligible since July 2021. His behaviour in detention, his physical and mental state and the risk of re-offending will be scrutinised.

“The commission must determine whether the objective of imprisonment has been achieved,” prison administration spokesman Singabakho Nxumalo told Africanewsguru tv.

The long process, which began more than a year ago, included a meeting last year with the victim’s parents. They expressed shock at the idea of their daughter’s killer being released.

– Judicial saga –

On the night of 13-14 February 2013, the South African athlete was in his ultra-secure Pretoria residence with his partner. Convinced that a burglar had broken in, he shot through the bathroom door. Reeva Steenkamp, a 29-year-old model, was shot four times.

Six-time Paralympic champion Oscar Pistorius was rich, famous and at the height of his fame. A year earlier, he had become a legend by competing with the able-bodied in the 400 metres at the London Olympics, a first for a double amputee.

“Blade Runner”, as he was nicknamed, was arrested in the early hours of 14 February. He pleads misunderstanding.

Charged with manslaughter, he was sentenced in 2014 to five years in prison at first instance. The former stadium star wept during his trial, which was broadcast live on television.

The prosecutor’s office demanded a reclassification as murder and appealed. Appearing before the judges on his stumps, he showed himself “broken”, according to the defence.

The world became fascinated by the case and the judicial saga kept the media on its toes: the former champion was sentenced to six years in prison for murder in 2016.

Except in exceptional circumstances, the minimum sentence for murder in South Africa is 15 years. The prosecution believes that the courts have again been too lenient and is appealing again.

In 2017, the Supreme Court of Appeal sentenced Oscar Pistorius to 13 years and 5 months in prison.

Reeva Steenkamp’s parents tell the press that their daughter “can finally rest in peace”.

Failed by his sponsors, ruined, the stadium idol sells his house to pay his lawyers. He is incarcerated in a prison near Pretoria.

The victim’s mother, June Steenkamp, will attend the hearing on Friday, Tania Koen, the parents’ lawyer, told Africanewsguru tv.

The father, Barry Steenkamp, will not be able to attend for health reasons but the couple will submit their arguments in writing. “After that, the law will take its course,” the lawyer said, without giving further details about Steenkamp’s state of mind.

If parole is denied, the inmate will be able to request a review of his application.