SOUTH Africa can take part in the Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa (BRICS) bloc while maintaining its relations with the West.
This is according to Ndzalama Mathebula, a lecturer in the Department of International Relations at the University of Joburg.
She told Daily Sun that fears that Mzansi's links with countries such as China and Russia could spoil its efforts to attract investments from the West are not realistic. This is because the relationships are economic rather than ideological.
She said Mzansi is in a strong strategic position because its ports are of benefit to the West, including the United States of America (USA).
"The USA is the second largest trading partner of South Africa, so it's not easy for them to actually let go of South Africa. If they were able to do that, they would have done it years ago. South Africa can be in partnership with many states because it remains in a very strategic position.
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"We have so many attractive aspects about us that draw countries towards South Africa. It's not a country that you can easily get rid of and not have an impact but rather, it would have a counter effect on those economies if they were to stop trading with South Africa. The Western countries need us as much as we need them," said Mathebula.
She said there is a reason why Mzansi has taken a non-aligned stance on the Russia-Ukraine war in voting at the United Nations Security council. She said South Africa understands the benefits that come with different partnerships.
Mathebula said it must be understood that BRICS doesn't really seek to change a country's bilateral and multilateral relations.
She said: "I don't believe that African states or even South Africa itself should pick partners - rather we should remain neutral in terms of looking after our national interests. So, it's not about the partnerships that we have but it's about what the partnership does for us."
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She said criticising SA for its partnerships with countries such as China and Saudi Arabia, which have poor human rights records, was unfair as BRICS is not a bloc that has an agenda that looks at human rights. "It wouldn't be much of a concern, but rather their common goal is towards economic growth, inclusivity and mutual benefit.
"I do believe that the dialogue and the agenda of BRICS will change with time and with priorities. But when they started the bloc back then, it was more of an economic co-operation by emerging markets, which is still a common feature in its dialogue even today," said Mathebula.
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