Expert: BRICS cooperation should deliver tangible benefits for South Africans
Political analyst Patience Edward says the next stage of BRICS cooperation should focus on practical opportunities for ordinary citizens and young people
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Photo source: Soweto TV
BRICS cooperation has already contributed to South Africa’s development, while its next stage should bring its benefits closer to ordinary citizens, according to Patience Edward, Political Analyst and participant in Futurelect’s Women in Public Office Programme. She shared this view in an exclusive interview with Soweto TV, a partner of TV BRICS.
Speaking about her expectations for the 2026 BRICS Summit, Edward said greater attention should be paid to how cooperation within the group affects people in their everyday lives.
“My expectation from the BRICS 2026 Summit is very simple and is to reinforce that question of what BRICS is actually doing for the ordinary South African,” she said.
Edward noted that BRICS cooperation has already made positive contributions to South Africa, highlighting the role of the New Development Bank in supporting different areas of development.
“We can't stray away from the fact that the partnership of BRICS has given some really good contributions to South Africa. We have had the New Development Bank that has helped with different sectors such as tourism, education, and so forth,” the analyst said.
At the same time, she stressed the importance of making the results of BRICS cooperation more visible and relevant at the individual level, particularly for younger generations. She also called for greater emphasis on practical implementation as BRICS enters a new stage of its development.
Edward described the 20-year development of BRICS as an important milestone and highlighted South Africa’s distinctive contribution to the partnership. According to her, the country can also serve as a gateway connecting BRICS cooperation with opportunities across the African continent.
"South Africa's contribution is a very unique one […] because South Africa really does give a gateway to other African countries, I think specifically in this BRICS partnership,” she said.
The analyst believes that the next stage of BRICS cooperation can therefore build on its achievements by translating partnership initiatives into practical opportunities that are increasingly tangible for South Africans.
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