By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa will this evening, 20 August 2023 address the nation on South Africa’s Foreign Policy and the upcoming BRICS Summit.
The summit will take place from August 22nd to 24th at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
The theme for this year summit: “Brics and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism.”
The theme covers five key priorities for 2023: addressing climate change challenges, revamping education and skills development, leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area, promoting post-pandemic recovery, and strengthening global cooperation.
Ramaphosa’s address is expected to start at 8pm.
The current Brics countries already make up more than 40% of all the people in the world and about 30% of the world’s money.
Ramaphosa believes the growth of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) organisation shows that the world has entered a “multipolar” era.
He spoke on the sidelines of the African National Congress’s national working committee (NWC) meeting at the Turffontein Racecourse in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Ramaphosa said there has been a tectonic shift in the geopolitical landscape of the world recently.
He said the era of one power having dominance over many parts of the world is over.
Ramaphosa said Brics summit presents an opportunity for world leaders to address many issues, including the case of unilateral sanctions.
“Because we now have a new world order and the BRICS Summit is going to be discussing all that, and the important thing is that South Africa, small as we are, is right at the epicentre of these types of discussions, testifying to the role that we play. We’re not arrogant about it, humble but we’re recognised for the key role that we play,” the President said.
The summit was overshadowed earlier this year when questions were raised over Russian Vladimir Putin’s participation. There is an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for Putin on war crimes relating to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. If he attended the summit in person, SA may have been compelled to arrest him
It was confirmed in July Putin would not attend in person, with foreign minister Sergey Lavrov representing Russia. It is expected Putin will participate remotely.