South Africa, Africa and the BRICS: The Apex of the South

This research paper examines South Africa's strategic objectives and challenges following its invitation to join the BRIC grouping in December 2010, focusing on its role as a representative for Africa in global governance, development, and trade.

• South Africa's membership in BRICS allows it to influence global governance and the international order, specifically regarding the restructuring of international institutions and climate change. However, interests within the group diverge, such as the fact that Russia and China are already permanent members of the United Nations Security Council while the other three members aspire to be.
• South Africa can use the BRICS forum to advocate for African developmental priorities, including the North-South infrastructure corridor championed by President Jacob Zuma at the 2010 African Union summit. There is a risk that competition between external actors from the North and South could occur at the expense of African interests.
• The BRICS forum provides South Africa an opportunity to attract investment and reduce business barriers in other member markets. While South Africa already has strong economic ties with China, the forum offers high-profile exposure to other dynamic emerging markets, though South Africa must address the high cost of doing business domestically.
• The influence of the BRICS grouping depends on its ability to maintain cohesion despite internal differences. South Africa's success as a regional representative will be measured by other African nations based on its ability to use the grouping to advance African development.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2011). South Africa, Africa and the BRICS: The Apex of the South. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-africa-and-the-brics-the-apex-of-the-south/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. South Africa, Africa and the BRICS: The Apex of the South. 2011. https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-africa-and-the-brics-the-apex-of-the-south/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=South Africa, Africa and the BRICS: The Apex of the South |date=13 April 2011 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-africa-and-the-brics-the-apex-of-the-south/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2011south, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{South Africa, Africa and the BRICS: The Apex of the South}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2011}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/south-africa-africa-and-the-brics-the-apex-of-the-south/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }