National Chairman's Annual Statement

The National Chairman's Annual Statement of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), delivered on 27 March 2013, analyzes South Africa's strategic position within a multipolar world. It discusses the role of the BRICS forum, the necessity of strengthening ties with other African regional powers, and the impact of domestic instability and military casualties in the Central African Republic on South Africa's global prestige and soft power.

• The global order is shifting toward multipolarity, with the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) positioning themselves as a counterweight to a Western-dominated system. However, the author notes that neither the BRICS nor Northern powers have provided solutions for pressing societal issues like poverty and inequality, and there is a growing gap between global financial markets and inclusive social well-being.
• South Africa's global objectives include supporting reforms to the Bretton Woods institutions, the United Nations (specifically the Security Council), and the revival of the Doha Development Agenda. To maximize its influence, the document argues that South Africa must be a 'global norms entrepreneur' and a 'regional policy innovator' while maintaining an effective state internally.
• The document emphasizes that South Africa's strategic advantage is rooted in Africa. It suggests that the country should allocate more resources to relations with key regional powers, specifically Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Egypt, and deepen integration within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
• Recent events have challenged South Africa's international image and soft power. These include military casualties in Bangui, Central African Republic, and domestic unrest, such as the police killing of 34 miners at the Marikana platinum mine in August 2012 and protests in De Doorns.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2013). National Chairman's Annual Statement. https://saiia.org.za/news/saiia-national-chairmans-annual-statement-delivered-on-27-march-2013/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. National Chairman's Annual Statement. 2013. https://saiia.org.za/news/saiia-national-chairmans-annual-statement-delivered-on-27-march-2013/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=National Chairman's Annual Statement |date=26 March 2013 |url=https://saiia.org.za/news/saiia-national-chairmans-annual-statement-delivered-on-27-march-2013/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2013national, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{National Chairman's Annual Statement}}, publisher = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2013}, month = mar, url = {https://saiia.org.za/news/saiia-national-chairmans-annual-statement-delivered-on-27-march-2013/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }