‘NOT PRO-RUSSIA OR ANTI-WEST’, SAYS PANDOR AHEAD OF BRICS SUMMIT

Wed 09 August 2023:

PRETORIA – South Africa’s foreign affairs minister Naledi Pandor has rejected the idea that Pretoria saw the BRICS (Brasil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grouping as being anti-West. She also reiterated the importance of Western trading partners to the country.

Pandor on Monday briefed the media on the state of readiness for 15th BRICS Summit. South Africa will host the heads of state and representatives of BRICS members and other countries at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg later this month.

“I don’t think we see BRICS as being pro-Russia or anti-Western … South Africa’s trading partners in the West are very, very important to South Africa’s economic progress,” she said.

Nearly 70 leaders from Africa and the Global South were invited to attend and meet the BRICS leaders in outreach sessions. Of these, 34 had confirmed and other responses were still coming in, she said.

Although French president Emmanuel Macron had previously expressed interest in participating, Pandor said Pretoria had not sent an invitation. Conversely, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi – a Russian ally – is likely to attend.

Delegations and discussions

Business delegations will also attend exhibitions on the sidelines of the Summit, she said.

“All BRICS business councils will bring large business delegations to South Africa to participate in this meeting … Delegations will undertake sector-focused visits to the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and to the Special Economic Zones in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal.”

Among the discussions expected between leaders of the bloc are “inclusive global economic recovery” and “sustainable development”.

“BRICS leaders are expected to discuss opportunities for realising the full potential of BRICS for inclusive global economic recovery and sustainable development [and] strengthening mutually beneficial partnerships with Africa and the global south in a multipolar world,” she said.

Pandor went on to suggest other matters of discussion would include “deepening and strengthening progressive multilateralism and delivering meaningful global governance reform”.

She added that “addressing the marginalisation of women in peace processes and fostering an environment of peace and development throughout the globe” was also on the agenda.