Media Statement
ANC STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA’S ATTENDANCE AT THE 16TH BRICS SUMMIT IN KAZAN
- 24 October 2024
The African National Congress (ANC) expresses its full support for President Cyril Ramaphosa’s
participation in the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. The ANC remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering global solidarity, promoting multilateralism, and advocating for a fairer international order that reflects the voices and interests of the developing world, particularly Africa.
South Africa’s presidency of BRICS in 2023, handed over to Russia, our long time ally in the liberation struggle, highlighted our nation’s unwavering commitment to multilateral cooperation. During our tenure, President Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of a multipolar global order and championed reforms in international governance structures such as the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to reflect the
realities of the developing world. This commitment to global justice aligns with the broader objectives of the National Democratic Revolution (NDR), which seeks to dismantle the remnants of global colonialism and ensure equitable access to resources and decision-making powers.
As South Africa prepares to assume the G20 Presidency in 2025, we stand at the intersection of two powerful international platforms. The G20, like BRICS, offers a pivotal opportunity for South Africa to advance the agenda of the Global South. Our leadership will focus on promoting inclusive economic growth, addressing the structural imbalances in the global economy, and ensuring that the needs of Africa and the Global South are prioritised.
Domestically, the formation of a Government of National Unity (GNU) following the 2024 elections has been a critical step in ensuring the political stability and operational continuation of our state. President Ramaphosa, in his address to BRICS leaders in Kazan, reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to governance through inclusivity and cooperation, underpinned by the principles of unity, which are central to our movement’s values. The ANC recognises the GNU as an instrument not only for stabilising our country but also for reinforcing our democracy. This unity of purpose must be defended as an expression of our sovereignty and national integrity.
As the ANC, we emphasise the need for respect towards the institution of the Head of State. Attacks on the presidency undermine the constitutional order, destabilises governance, and detract us from the national project of advancing our developmental agenda. We call on all citizens, political actors, and institutions to rally behind President Ramaphosa in the spirit of unity that defines the GNU and supports the broader national interest.
The ANC is resolute in its position regarding Palestine, reaffirming our commitment to the Palestinian people’s struggle for self-determination. The President’s speech in Kazan echoed this commitment, as he called for an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian land and the cessation of violence in the Gaza Strip. As an organization that has endured the harsh realities of apartheid, the ANC draws parallels between the Palestinian struggle and our own history. We will continue to champion the cause of Palestine on all international platforms, including BRICS and the United Nations, advocating for the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state and calling for the international community to take concrete steps towards a just and lasting peace.
This position we took was reinforced during the recent ANC NEC Lekgotla, where the leadership
deliberated on South Africa’s international role, reaffirming our solidarity with oppressed nations, including
Palestine. The Lekgotla further emphasised the need for South Africa to use its BRICS and upcoming G20 roles to elevate the struggles of marginalized people globally, ensuring that we use all international forums to challenge imperialism, the legacy of colonialism and inequality.
The ANC supports the objectives of BRICS, which seek to challenge the dominance of Western financial institutions, advance global governance reforms, and foster an equitable world order that benefits the Global South.
South Africa, under President Ramaphosa’s leadership, will continue to work with BRICS partners to push for multilateral reforms, address global inequalities, and enhance South-South cooperation. The New Development Bank, a key institution of BRICS, remains an essential tool for financing infrastructure projects across Africa and the Global South, providing an alternative to the exploitative conditions often attached to loans from Western-controlled financial institutions like the IMF and World Bank.
The ANC reiterates its full support for President Ramaphosa’s role in leading South Africa on the global stage, as well as his leadership of the GNU domestically. As we move towards assuming the G20 Presidency in 2025, the ANC will continue to advocate for global unity, economic justice, and peace, particularly in regions experiencing conflict and oppression, such as Palestine.
The ANC calls on all South Africans to rally behind these efforts, recognises that our international engagements, whether through BRICS or the G20, are intricately linked to our domestic project of building a united, prosperous, and democratic society.
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ISSUED BY THE AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS.
Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri
National Spokesperson
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