University of South Africa co-hosts “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutual accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive growth”
BRICS, an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, is a powerful grouping of the world’s leading emerging market economies. This dialogue aimed to bring much anticipated discourse on global peace and security, and strengthen BRICS membership. Sustainable development and accelerated economic growth were some of the topics under discussion.
The event was a build-up towards the Political Parties Plus Dialogue which will be held from 18 to 20 July 2023, in anticipation of the 15th BRICS Summit in South Africa. The summit is expected to be attended by more than 50 political parties across the globe, under the theme BRICS and Africa: Partnership for mutual accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive growth, and will take place from 22 to 24 August 2023.
Unisa honoured to host
Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor
In her welcoming remarks, Prof Puleng LenkaBula, Unisa Principal and Vice-Chancellor (VC), expressed her delight that Unisa was chosen to host this dialogue ahead of the 15th BRICS Summit, and elaborated on the significance of this dialogue which is taking place in the same year as the university’s 150th anniversary.
She stated: “I am pleased that you have chosen Unisa to host this dialogue on a range of issues that affect Africa, the Global South, and the entire world. This year, Unisa celebrates 150 years of shaping futures in the service of humanity. This university has played a pivotal role in ensuring that those who were imprisoned in our country for agitating and advocating for liberation and for peace, could study through this university.”
There can be no peace without development
The VC said that since 1945, many national and regional conflicts have emerged that undermined the spirit and purpose of the establishment of the United Nations, that of preserving peace and avoiding future wars. “Then, as it is now,” she continued, “it was understood that there cannot be peace without development. The current geopolitical situation in the international arena is quite concerning. It requires bold and decisive leadership, and South Africa, as one of the key participants, has harnessed this leadership.”
The VC said that she is proud not only to be an African, but to see African leaders engaging with Russia and the Ukraine to bring peace and dialogue, instead of guns. “This search for friendship is what we as Africans want and celebrate,” she added.
“The world we are going into must not be feared,” remarked the VC, “because we must all be co-creators of the world and the future we want. And we must not be told what world we should live in. We want a world that is at peace with itself, and promotes human development, sustainable for future generations, women and children, and peace for all.”
She further said that there cannot be peace in the world when only a few countries are given the power to make imperative decisions for other countries.
In conclusion, the VC said that universities have the moral and ethical obligation to produce knowledge, ideation and solutions to preserve world peace. “I am hoping that tonight’s engagement will prepare us for the coming BRICS dialogue under this theme,” she said.
Governing party committed to engagement
The purpose and intended outcomes of this dialogue were outlined by Nomvula Mokonyane, Deputy Secretary-General of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and head of the party’s international relations subcommittee. Nomvula said that as the governing party, the ANC is committed to enhancing outreach and engagement with the different facets of diplomacy, and that the dialogue forms a part of that outreach.
She continued: “Given that 26 June 2023 marked the 68th anniversary of the Freedom Charter, the theme of today’s dialogue appropriately draws from it, which states ‘South Africa shall strive to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes by negotiation – not war’.”
Mokonyane further outlined the agreements that were reached at the previous BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue in 2018:
Inclusivity and mutual prosperity and growth in the context of the technology driven 4th Industrial Revolution.
Satisfaction regarding the achievements of BRICS as a strong demonstration of BRICS’s cooperation toward the attainment of peace, harmony, shared development and prosperity.
The need to strengthen and reform multilateral institutions to be more inclusive in a multipolar world order.
“The 2018 dialogue further committed BRICS countries to enhance their strategic partnership for the benefit of our people through the promotion of peace, a fairer international order, sustainable development and inclusive growth,” she said, adding that strengthening cooperation in the areas of economy, peace and security, and people-to-people exchanges are also of key importance.
She further stated that the 55th National conference of the governing party also anticipated greater synergy between the BRICS Business Council and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the promotion and implementation of the resolutions which were adopted in 2018.
Key economic partnerships examined
Dr Ayanda Ntsaluba, Group Executive Director of Discovery Limited and a member of the BRICS Business Council, outlined the way in which the council functions. Its mandate, he said, is, among others, to advance and promote trade and investments and broader economic activities among the five member states.
On South Africa being the only African country with BRICS membership, Ntsaluba said the key focus of the country’s participation is to benefit the whole of the continent.
He also mentioned three key priorities that the Business Council will be focusing on this year: just energy transition, critical skills, and unlocking opportunities in the continent.
One of the activities to be highlighted at the upcoming summit, he said, is the partnership between the New Development Bank (formerly BRICS Development Bank) and the partnership with the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) on energy transition.
With regard to the global gross domestic product, based on purchasing power parity, Ntsaluba said that the BRICS member countries are almost equal with the G7 countries at around 31-32% in terms of their contribution, adding that this is a particularly important family of countries that South Africa has partnered with.
Margret Molefe, member of the South African BRICS Youth Association and participant in the BRICS Civil Society Forum, stated that the mission of the youth association is to have the youth participating meaningfully in Afrocentric perspectives with BRICS member countries, and to create networks for young people to tackle African challenges such as unemployment, poverty and other ills that the continent faces.
The BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue and Outreach event perfectly encapsulated Unisa’s theme for its milestone 150th year of academic excellence, Reclaiming Africa’s Intellectual Futures, and the university is proud of the role it could play in providing a platform for the country’s stakeholders in preparing for the highly anticipated 15th BRICS Summit.