6. South Africa: Security and Stability in Development Cooperation

This chapter explores the South–South development cooperation contribution of South Africa, the smallest BRICS member. It discusses the emergence of South Africa’s development partnership as a mechanism to secure its prosperity and security on a volatile continent. The country’s extensive peace-building initiatives and investment in the establishment of a pro-development architecture in Africa are key pillars of its approach. Lack of engagement with South Africa’s private sector and civil society actors is exposed as a serious gap in bolstering the country’s development offering. Finally, the chapter considers the importance of trilateral cooperation as a significant enabler of South African engagement in its region, alongside the multiple identities that BRICS can offer South Africa as a development partner.