Prepare Estcourt’s presidential cell

The International Criminal Court has issued a warrant of arrest for Vladimir Putin, who may or may not be a good friend to a few South Africans in high places. Now he can’t travel without the risk of arrest, especially in ICC member countries. South Africa is a member and also belongs to

Brics along with Brazil, Russia, India and China. South Africa takes over the Brics leadership this year and might host a summit to celebrate. If so, Putin may want to attend, if only to see his old friends. If he comes, President Cyril Ramaphosa would have an Omar al-Bashir situation on his hands. Since the courts ruled during the Bashir brouhaha in 2015 that South Africa is duty-bound to arrest anyone on its soil who is wanted by the ICC, Hogarth suggests McBuffalo immediately informs Brics members that due to loadshedding we cannot host international events this year.