Johannesburg: Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, has urged young individuals to engage with the cultural diversity within the BRICS nations and understand its significance in promoting a more inclusive global framework. According to South African Government News Agency, Addressing attendees at the 2025 BRICS Summer School in Johannesburg, Letsike emphasized that BRICS is not merely an economic and political alliance.

Letsike highlighted the strategic objectives of BRICS, which now includes eleven member states: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran. She stated that BRICS aims to shift the global order from unipolar dominance to a more balanced governance system.

Letsike pointed out that BRICS nations collectively represent nearly half of the world’s population and over a third of the global GDP. She stressed the importance of including every voice in this transformation, especially those from marginalized communities, to ensure a comprehensive approach to global challenges.

The summer school, themed ‘Innovatively Inclusive Futures for BRICS and the Global South’, gathers high school learners, unemployed graduates, researchers, youth activists, entrepreneurs, and young professionals. It aims to delve into the bloc’s history, principles, and future directions, aligning with Brazil’s 2025 BRICS Presidency focus on enhancing Global South cooperation for inclusive governance.

The Deputy Minister underscored that initiatives in global health, trade, climate change, artificial intelligence, peace, and security must consider intersectionality. She warned against societal invisibility, noting that neglecting diverse voices can lead to vulnerabilities and unaddressed needs.

Letsike called for a spirit of inclusion, citing South Africa’s historical struggles against invisibility and urging the BRICS agenda to incorporate intersectionality as a core principle.