"South Africa: more of a briquette than a Bric?" - [The Guardian 24/03/13]

"It's just wrong. South Africa doesn't belong in Brics. South Africa has too small an economy. There are not many similarities with the other four countries in terms of the numbers. In fact, South Africa's inclusion has somewhat weakened the group's power." [more]

"Complicated relationship holds BRICS back" - [Mail&Guardian 22/03/13]

At the March 2012 Brics meeting, the members broadly called for a new international reserve-currency ­system to provide "stability and ­certainty". Then again, the Brics countries disagree on which currency should be the "reserve" currency. [more]

"Counter Summit: BRICS from below". Durban, South Africa - March 22-27

Critical civil society must scrutinise the claims, the processes and the outcomes of the BRICS summit and its aftermath. In Durban, three local organisations with a strong track record of advocacy and research on social, economic and ecological justice propose events between 22-27 March, so as to hear about long-overdue social, ecological, political, economic and other rights-related concerns in the BRICS. [more]

"Licking their lips over Africa's resources" - [Centre for Civil Society 12/03/13]

the Durban summit will be remembered as a latter-day 1884-85 Berlin conference. Five colonial powers – host Germany, Britain, France, Portugal and Belgium (plus Italy and Spain) – divvied up the continent back then with one common objective: efficient resource extraction through export-oriented infrastructure. [more]