By Kopano Dibakwane
Mpumalanga premier, Refiloe Mthsweni- Tsipane and the deputy minister for International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes, hosted a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) roadshow in Graskop.
The roadshow is part of preparations for the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled to be held in August this year in Johannesburg, which will be chaired by South Africa. It included a tour, in and around Graskop tourist destinations of choice, such as The Gorge, Lisbon falls and Bourke’s luck potholes.
Mpumalanga premier ,Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane said that BRICS countries must foster unity and collaborations, to realise positive spinoffs in terms of investment opportunities.
According to Mtshweni-Tsipane, some of the initiatives highlighted during discussions with BRICS countries included; a coal refurbishment arrangement with China and a proposition to introduce an aircraft system at the Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport by Brazil, and other initiatives to bolster tourism in the province.
” Being given this opportunity as the first province to host this important gathering could not have come at any other time. In Mpumalanga we are strong in agriculture, tourism, mining(sector) and energy. Those were common areas of interest. It’s a give and take situation, where you are selling your point and they are selling their point,” she said.
Botes said that the theme for the forthcoming summit is entitled; BRICS and Africa, a partnership for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development and inclusive multilateralism.
” As the cabinet of South Africa we have pivoted five priorities; Accelarated energy transition, enhanced capability on education and skills equilibrium, eccelarate the implementation of African continental free trade agreement, recalibration of our economic fortunes post the COVID 19 pandemic. We welcome the foresight and political commitment that Mpumalanga and the leadership of the premier have demonstrated,” he said.
Botes replied to a question posed during the media briefing about the potential pitfalls to the preparation of the 2023 BRICS summit, in relation to the warrant of arrest issued by the International Criminal Court(ICC), against Russian leader, Vladimir Putin.
” It’ll depend on what is the substantive legal opinion in relation to that matter. South Africa is a signatory of the Rome statute. We have an obligation to adhere to the necessary protocols of all multilateral instruments that we are signatories to. Minister(Naledi) Pandor has raised the matter about the uneven application, as it relates to multilateral instruments that get applied differently to different countries depending on the posture of a country,” said Botes
He said that the roadshow will end with a gala dinner on 5 April and it will be graced by organised business formations in the province.
