A COSATU spokesperson, Zanele Sabela, has called on BRICS countries to prioritise inclusive economic growth, stronger intra-BRICS trade, sustainable development and people-centred policies.
A spokesperson for the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), Zanele Sabela, has called on BRICS member states to place greater emphasis on inclusive economic growth, stronger intra-BRICS trade and people-centred development.
Sabela made the call ahead of the 18th BRICS Summit scheduled to hold in New Delhi, India, on September 12 and 13, 2026, under India’s chairship. The summit’s theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Security.”
“In terms of the 2026 BRICS Summit, we’re expecting the issues that the group was formed to address to be taken forward.
“We are looking at discussions on inclusive economic growth, as well as intensifying intra-BRICS trade,” she said.
Sabela said South Africa had played an important role in strengthening Africa’s participation in BRICS by promoting the continent’s interests and encouraging greater African involvement in the grouping.
She urged BRICS to move beyond discussions and focus on practical outcomes that would deliver tangible benefits to member states, particularly through cooperation on sustainable development.
“It is now time to see what BRICS can actually achieve for its member states,” she said.
Her call aligns with priorities already identified for the 2026 summit. The South African government said it would use the meeting to promote expanded intra-BRICS trade and investment, industrialisation, value addition and investment in African infrastructure aligned with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
South Africa is also expected to participate actively in the BRICS Business Forum, where discussions will cover trade and supply chains, agriculture, women-led development, the digital economy and innovation.
Sabela further called for green development and climate action to remain central to the BRICS agenda, alongside policies that place people at the centre of economic development.
The 2026 BRICS summit is taking place as the expanded grouping seeks to strengthen cooperation among its diverse membership while addressing global economic and geopolitical challenges. South Africa’s government has said the summit will focus on people-centred development, trade and investment, financial and institutional cooperation and reform of global governance institutions.
The BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting earlier in 2026 also identified inclusive growth, sustainable development, resilient supply chains and greater intra-BRICS trade as areas requiring practical cooperation.
For South Africa, the summit provides an opportunity to advance its economic interests while strengthening Africa’s voice within the expanded BRICS framework.
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