The North-West University’s (NWU’s) Afrocentric Governance of Public Affairs (AGoPA) research focus area recently hosted its inaugural public lecture titled “Mainstreaming South Africa and Africa - the G20 Agenda: Implications for research in higher education” as well as a roundtable discussion titled “BRICS Expansion: Challenges and Prospects”.
Prof Anil Sooklal, an extraordinary professor at the research focus area, was the guest speaker.
Prof Sooklal is also South Africa’s BRICS Sherpa, IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) Sherpa and Focal Point for IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation and Ambassador-at-Large: Asia and BRICS at the Department of International Relations and Cooperation Republic of South Africa.
Prof Linda du Plessis, deputy vice-chancellor for planning and Vanderbijlpark Campus operations, welcomed academics and students to the event.
Regarding South Africa’s participation in the G20, Prof Sooklal explained that the country is guided by the key pillars of its foreign policy. These include advancing national interests to attain domestic objectives, enhancing the African Union’s African Agenda, promoting sustainable development and working with the South in addressing shared challenges of underdevelopment, equity and social justice, among others.
He said South Africa’s engagement in all G20 fora is underpinned by its national priorities.
“Engagement is therefore grounded by the key targets of the National Development Plan; these were grounded by the key targets of the National Development Plan.” Prof Sooklal also spoke about artificial intelligence (AI) and its threats.
“We are not in control of the AI processes, and there is currently no governing architecture for it,” he said.
He also criticised corporates for dividing the world instead of bringing it together. He said during the Covid-19 pandemic, vaccine hoarding divided the world between the haves and the have-nots.
“All the gains made over 20 years were pushed back. During the pandemic, we had the opportunity to hold the world together, but instead, Covid-19 divided us. Covid-19 was a common enemy, a levelling factor that would have brought us together, but instead, it divided us,” he explained.
Prof Sooklal, who also touched on the Russia-Ukraine War, bemoaned the silence of the United Nations in the war. He observed that small countries were rebelling against the system.
“The world is not what it used to be – it does not accept that a few are making decisions on their behalf. Countries are calling not just for reforms but for transformation. This is where we find resistance from those controlling the world,” he said, adding that the Global West did not want to give space for emerging power.
He added that universities and think tanks needed to be part of the G20.
“We depend on the academia and research community for knowledge. We need this cross-border merging, which is lacking in South Africa.”
Prof Costa Hofisi, director of AGoPA, says the event was successful.
“The discussions were robust, and there was also a focus on BRICS expansion and many BRICS opportunities for researchers were highlighted. Many other BRICS events will be held this year at which a number of opportunities for collaboration will be explored,” he added.
