For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Thabi Madiba.

Making headlines: Ramaphosa appoints ICC Inter-Ministerial Committee; Minister slams Winde over Putin arrest comments; And, Holomisa says multi-party democracy is the only defence against one-party dominance

Ramaphosa appoints ICC Inter-Ministerial Committee

President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed an Inter-Ministerial Committee that will be chaired by Deputy President Paul Mashatile to consider various legal options on the International Criminal Court matter.

South Africa reaffirmed its participation in the ICC, and confirmed that it remained a signatory to the Rome Statute following recent controversy and confusion on the issue. 

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni explained that South Africa will continue to advocate for strengthening institutions of global governance, and will also continue to campaign for equal and consistent application of international law.

This clarification followed an error in a comment made during a media briefing held by the governing African National Congress on South Africa’s status with regard to the ICC.

Minister slams Winde over Putin arrest comments

The national government has slammed Western Cape Premier Alan Winde over his comment that Law Enforcement Advancement Plan officers would arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin if he arrived in the province.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the Western Cape is not an independent republic out of South Africa.

Ntshavheni added they were not running a federal government.

She said if President Putin is in the country and he is protected by the presidential protection service, she does not know how Premier Winde, who does not have even policing functions, will get through the presidential protection service.

She added that Winde could "dream about it".

On Thursday, Winde said that while the national government wasn't sure what it would do with Putin if he came to South Africa for the BRICS summit in August, the Western Cape government would set its law enforcement officers on him. 

And, Holomisa says multi-party democracy is the only defence against one-party dominance

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa says any one political party that thinks it can bring about political change on its own is living in a fool’s paradise.

Holomisa was speaking at the UDM's national general council at the Gallager Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg, today.

He said the country can no longer put their trust in the so-called self-correcting nature of the ruling party, explaining that for instance, their foreign and economic policies are contradicting and causes confusion. There is no discipline and coherence.

Holomisa said, given the political frustrations in the country, there was a proliferation of political parties.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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