Question NW2303 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
20 June 2023 - NW2303
Nqola, Mr X to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
How does she intend to strike a balance between the Republic’s commitment to the International Criminal Court and its desire to maintain strong diplomatic ties with Russia and other BRICS member countries?
Reply:
South Africa is a party to the Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC), a multilateral organisation that relies on inter-state cooperation to ensure peace and justice.
South Africa is also a member of BRICS which was founded upon, inter alia, the shared commitment to restructure the global political, economic, and financial architecture to be fair, balanced and representative, resting on the important pillars of multilateralism and international law.
The aspirations of the ICC and BRICS are mutually reinforcing. South Africa’s participation both in the ICC and BRICS reaffirms its commitment to international law and justice, protecting human rights, peace and security, multilateralism, and a rules-based international order, which is a fundamental pillar of South Africa’s foreign policy.
The Government of South Africa has, from the onset of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, consistently called for a peaceful, negotiated solution. The Government of South Africa maintains this stance.