President Cyril Ramaphosa threatened to remove South Africa's membership in the International Criminal Court due to "unfair treatment."
On Tuesday, South Africa's president told journalists that the ruling African National Congress has decided to withdraw the country's membership.
On Tuesday, he spoke in the Union Buildings in Pretoria in the presence of Finland President Sauli Väinämö Niinistö. President Niinistö is in Pretoria on a state visit.
His South African counterpart, who also serves as the ruling ANC's head, stated that the decision was made during the weekend's ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
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President Ramaphosa said the governing party, the ANC, has decided that South Africa should withdraw from the International criminal court, largely because of how the ICC has been seen to deal with these types of problems.
He added that they would like the subject of unjust treatment to be thoroughly explored, but in the meanwhile, the governing party has determined that there should be a pull-out, ensuring that will be a matter that will be pursued.
President Ramaphosa's announcement comes with all eyes on South Africa as it prepares for the BRICS Summit in August. The International Criminal Court issued an arrest order for Russian President Vladimir Putin, and South Africa must carry it out as a member state.
The ICC court issued an arrest warrant for President Putin for alleged war crimes, including the illegal deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. The South African president had stated that his government was still consulting on the warrant.
Obed Bapela, ANC NEC member and Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, indicated earlier this month that South Africa wouldn't arrest a sitting head of state while visiting the country.
Meanwhile, Prof Anil Sooklal, South Africa's BRICS sherpa and ambassador at large for Asia and BRICS, recently revealed that President Putin would attend the summit, which will be held from August 22 to 24.
