South Africa and Brazil Push for a New Economic Model

Why the Meeting Matters

South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola welcomed Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira and their teams to Pretoria for the 8th Session of the South Africa‑Brazil Joint Commission. The gathering gave both nations a chance to review what they’ve accomplished since their last meeting in Brasília in April 2024 and to plot the next steps in their partnership.

What the Joint Commission Does

The Joint Commission is the main platform that turns the strategic partnership between South Africa and Brazil into real‑world cooperation. It covers everything from trade and investment to tourism, agriculture, education, energy, science, technology, and mining.

Recent Achievements

• A Memorandum of Cooperation between ApexBrasil and South Africa’s Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.
• A Tourism Cooperation Action Plan for 2026‑2029.
• Progress in agriculture, education, energy, science and technology, and mining.

Trade and Investment Are Growing

Brazil is South Africa’s biggest trading partner in Latin America and the second‑largest in the Americas. In 2025, bilateral trade reached about US$2 billion (roughly R32 billion).

Who’s Investing Where?

• South African firms operate in Brazil in pharma, tech, mining, finance, and chemicals.
• Brazilian companies are putting money into South Africa’s automotive and food‑manufacturing sectors.

Both sides see the African Continental Free Trade Area as a gateway for Brazilian businesses to reach over 1.4 billion Africans, while the SACU‑MERCOSUR Preferential Trade Agreement offers a foundation to expand market access and cut trade barriers.

Next Steps on Investment

The two countries aim to finalize an Agreement on Investment Promotion, Cooperation, Facilitation and Protection, which will create a stronger framework for mutually beneficial investments.

Tourism Bounces Back

Brazil is now South Africa’s ninth‑largest source of tourists. Nearly 65 000 Brazilians visited South Africa last year, bringing numbers close to pre‑pandemic levels. A 90‑day visa agreement and more direct flights between Johannesburg and São Paulo have helped this rebound.

Working Together on Global Issues

As major economies on their continents, South Africa and Brazil act as bridges between the Global North and the Global South. They often team up in multilateral forums to push for reforms that reflect the wishes of the majority of the world’s people.

Key Global Priorities

• Reforming global governance to be more inclusive.
• Supporting the historic election of the first woman UN Secretary‑General.
• Fixing the global financial architecture so that countries don’t spend more on debt interest than on health and education.

Both nations have used their G20 presidencies to highlight inequality, even proposing an International Panel on Inequality that is gaining traction.

Critical Minerals and a New Development Model

The regions are rich in the minerals needed for a green future—think lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earths. Demand for these resources could quadruple by 2040, according to the International Energy Agency.

From Extraction to Prosperity

Instead of repeating old patterns where the Global South supplies raw materials while wealth is generated elsewhere, South Africa and Brazil want to build a model where:

• Minerals fuel local industrialisation.
• Skills development and technology transfer happen at home.
• Prosperity stays within the countries that own the resources.

Lamola stressed that speaking up for the Global South isn’t charity—it’s a recognition that many challenges can’t be solved by countries acting alone. Both nations have also stood firm against unilateral actions that threaten their democracies.

Looking Ahead

The partnership between South Africa and Brazil rests on shared democratic values, a commitment to nation‑building, and the belief that cooperation yields better results than going it alone. As Brazil approaches its upcoming elections, South Africa expresses confidence in the resilience of Brazilian democracy and looks forward to deepening ties across trade, tourism, technology, and sustainable resource management.

Conclusion

The 8th Session of the South Africa‑Brazil Joint Commission highlighted strong political ties, growing economic links, renewed tourism flows, joint advocacy for global reforms, and a visionary approach to critical minerals. By aiming for a development model that lets the Global South benefit from its own natural wealth, the two nations are setting an example for how cooperation can create shared prosperity in a rapidly changing world.