In South Africa, the ANC has not called for withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. The country has been a signatory to the Rome Statute since 1998.

Previous attempts to leave the court, such as in 2016, have already failed. This new confusion illustrates Pretoria's ambiguity with regard to the ICC, says RFI's Romain Chanson. "From the ANC's point of view, Vladimir Putin can come here whenever he wants," says Mbalula. "The ICC does not serve the common interest, but the interest of a few," says Ramaphosa.