Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, says should Russian President, Vladimir Putin, lands in the province, his officers – the Western Cape Government funded Law Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP), will have him arrested.
This comes after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued
an arrest warrant for Putin for war crimes committed during Russia's illegal
invasion of Ukraine.The South African government has not said whether it will
arrest Putin if he comes to the BRICS
summit, happening in August.
“Even in the face of this arrest warrant, national
government seemingly intends to push ahead and host President Putin at a BRICS
summit in South Africa, scheduled for later this year. This is unacceptable and
deplorable,” stated Premier Alan Winde.
“Putin has
consistently and violently eroded the freedoms of the Ukrainian people and those
in his own country who dare take a principled stand against his brutal actions.
If the Russian leader sets foot in the Western Cape we as the provincial
government will have him arrested by our own Western Cape Government funded Law
Enforcement Advancement Plan (LEAP) officers. If the South African Police
Service is not instructed to act, we will,” the Premier warned.
Winde says he is perturbed that the South African
Government is not taking action regarding Putin.
“The Western Cape Government (WCG) will not only fight for
the fundamental rights and freedoms of our citizens but is also willing to show
solidarity with Ukraine by taking a stand against the brute force unleashed on
its civilians by Russia. I am highly disturbed by how the ANC national
government is entirely focused on taking steps to ensure the freedom of
Vladimir Putin, instead of focusing on securing freedoms for South Africans,
many of whom are not free from fear, and have yet to achieve economic freedom,
29 years into our democracy,” said Alan Winde, Western Cape Premier.
Done By: Mitchum George
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