Karyn Maughan | Judges denied Ramaphosa's plea for secrecy on Putin – and we should thank them

Had President Cyril Ramaphosa gotten his way, the SA government would have kept its response to litigation over the ICC warrant issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin secret. But, Karyn Maughan writes, three judges ensured that didn't happen – at huge benefit to South Africa. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government were so intent on keeping details of their responses to the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant issued against Russian President Vladimir Putin secret that they argued for their non-disclosure at a court hearing on Monday.

Ramaphosa had initially insisted that his request for confidentiality of his affidavit – in which he contended that Russia might declare war on South Africa if Putin was arrested – was based on the fact that South Africa was required to keep details of the ICC arrest warrant issued against the Russian Federation leader confidential.