South Africa to help BRICS strengthen economic development agenda
Expert says South Africa can act as a bridge for BRICS while supporting infrastructure development and advancing the economic priorities of the Global South
-
![]()
Photo source: Soweto TV
South Africa can serve as a bridge within BRICS while helping advance economic development and infrastructure across the Global South, Nkanyezi Thabethe, Member of the African National Congress Women’s League Young Women’s Desk, said in an exclusive interview with Soweto TV, a partner of TV BRICS.
Thabethe said she expects BRICS in 2026 to focus on creating “proper economic alternatives” and strengthening mechanisms that support development in member and partner countries.
“We are African, and I think we are at a unique intersection that can contribute to global development, which BRICS must reflect,” she said.
According to Thabethe, BRICS has developed institutions over the past two decades that can contribute to infrastructure and economic development. She highlighted the role of the New Development Bank in supporting infrastructure projects, particularly on the African continent, including transport and roads.
The expert also pointed to the development of BRICS Pay, saying that the initiative is being experimented with across countries affiliated with BRICS.
She added that South Africa’s contribution to the wider BRICS framework could be to keep development priorities at the centre of the agenda.
“I think South Africa’s contribution to the broader BRICS spectrum is to be the voice of the Global South and to ask ourselves whether we are still prioritising the development of our countries,” she said.
Thabethe also stressed that economic development should remain a key consideration for African countries and that prosperity and sovereignty should not be viewed as mutually exclusive.
-
![]()
Economy09.09.26Belarus and China increase stock exchange trading volumes -
![]()
Economy09.09.26Tehran enters list of world's top 100 innovation clusters -
![]()
Economy09.09.26Expert: BRICS should turn cooperation into practical opportunities for partner countries -
![]()
Economy09.09.26Tunisia and Egypt intend to increase trade volumes and explore opportunities for joint investment -
![]()
Economy08.09.26Exports of Chinese microchips rise by 103.9% over 8 months -
![]()
Economy08.09.26Minister: India becomes world’s fastest-growing economy
-
![Vladimir Putin]()
Vladimir PutinPresident of Russia"We are developing mutual trade, which is growing; it increased by over 12 per cent last year. We have a joint commission working in this sphere. Our focus is on agriculture, shipbuilding, information technology and energy, including nuclear power. We have signed a free trade agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and Indonesia. Jakarta is our reliable and old friend within ASEAN. We are working together at all international platforms, including the UN" -
![Vladimir Putin]()
Vladimir PutinPresident of Russia"More and more Iranian students are choosing Russian education. We are very pleased about this. A great many future doctors are studying in Russia. In the 2025–2026 academic year, the number of Iranian students in Russia approached 10,000, with 802 of them studying at the expense of the Russian state budget" -
![Xi Jinping]()
Xi JinpingPresident of the People’s Republic of China"The foundation of our bilateral relations will only grow stronger, and we will confidently move forward to a better future. […] The striving of nations on our planet for peace, development, cooperation and mutual benefit remains unchanged. The vital mission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is to maintain stability and promote the development of our region" -
![Alisher Salomov]()
Alisher SalomovAdviser to the Chairman of the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan"First and foremost, I would like to highlight the importance of this Central Asia–Russia initiative, because environmental problems know no borders, and only a shared understanding of these problems and the search for joint solutions can deliver positive results" -
![Joao Paulo Capobianco]()
Joao Paulo CapobiancoBrazilian Minister of the Environment and Climate Change"The BRICS countries have a very high level of responsibility because they share an important part of the world's biodiversity, landscapes, populations, food production and water resources. So, we have an opportunity to lead by example. We have our development bank, which can demonstrate and develop new ways of financing programmes. We can reduce the risks for private capital to invest in restoration and efforts to combat desertification"
