Johannesburg, South Africa (Commonwealth Union)_The general perception of Africa is a continent wrestling with poverty, hunger and the massive impacts of climate change. However, walk into Sandton just on the outskirts of Johannesburg, and that picture turns upside down. The glitzy glam town of Sandton which is the banking district of the increasingly shabby Johannesburg is hosting the BRICS meeting – a bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. The collective has ambitious plans – to dethrone the west and its dominance in global affairs.
Sandton, known as the wealthiest square mile in Africa is quite proud to host this historic meeting but Africa also felt a sense of relief when Russian President Vladimir Putin decided to stay away from the summit. If Putin did come into Sandton, South Africa would be in the uncomfortable position of having to take sides – the west’s or Russia’s – especially on alleged war crimes in Ukraine.
But since that challenge disappeared, South Africa is enthusiastic about the meeting and putting its full weight behind the BRICS and seemingly distancing itself from the west. It’s not about a multi-polar world but more about being with China and to a lesser extent, Russia. There seems to be an overwhelming consensus that China is the future and it was best to jump on that bandwagon as the west’s influence and superpower status in the world, seemed to be declining.
South Africa has been having hard times in grappling with a failing economy post COVID, the world’s highest levels of unemployment, inequality and desperation for more foreign investment to avoid a quick spiral into bankruptcy. While China has become an increasingly important player in South Africa, the EU and US have dominated for decades with longstanding trade and investment.
The only reason South Africa would jeopardise the long-standing relationship with the west points to the current political administration which has been rife with infighting, corruption and administrative chaos. An example is South Africa’s see-sawing response to the war in Ukraine – condemning the invasion, then not condemning it, praising Putin, coming up as a peace broker, hosting Russian naval exercises, repeating the Kremlin rhetoric and also struggling to explain its stance to Washington. And did South Africa sell arms to Russia – that remains a mystery?
The BRICS summit will provide the Kremlin a platform to showcase its strategic diplomacy and position itself as a credible alternative to the colonial western influence in Africa. There is another reason the BRICS have an advantage. The west has done little to navigate its presence in Africa, preoccupied as it is with development projects and invitations to favoured African leaders at a whim. The African continent is treated as a wayward child who constantly needs to be managed. Little sustainable support or partnership is extended.
And there’s the role of western armies including French troupes and US drones in Niger and Somalia which has provoked backlash. This points to strong reasons as to why Africa will strongly back the BRICS’ alternative vision – to move away from colonial dominance and have the BRICS help the African vision come forth.
