SOUTH Africa plans to leave the International Criminal Court (ICC), a deputy minister said yesterday, as the government faces criticism for ignoring a court order to arrest Sudan’s President, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, earlier this year.

The ICC has “lost its direction” and the ruling African National Congress (ANC) wants to withdraw South Africa after following certain processes, Obed Bapela, deputy minister in the Presidency, told Reuters after a ruling party policy meeting.

Bashir, accused of genocide and war crimes, visited the country in June, but was allowed to leave despite a court order to detain him. The government last week asked the ICC for more time to explain why it allowed this. [ID:nL8N1253CF]
But the ruling party this weekend resolved to leave the ICC, with Bapela saying powerful nations “trample” human rights and pursue “selfish interests”.