Pros and cons of being in the ring with Brics: iLIVE

South Africa is a member of Brics not simply because it is a gateway to Africa ("SA punching above its weight" yesterday).

We have interests as a country first and foremost. How do we address the anti-dumping charge that TJ Strydom mentions without sitting at the table and talking to these countries about such issues? Brics offers us the opportunity to do so.

How do we partner with these countries to develop local manufacturing capacity? That can't happen on a whim, but requires partnership.

The question is not whether or not the Bric countries need us, but what South Africa stands to benefit.

Strydom and other naysayers should learn to look at what is in our interests regardless of how much we give. If we get more out of the Brics association than we give, so be it. - Malose Kekana, by e-mail

THE article says it all. The much-praised joining of Brics will have very little real effect on job creation in South Africa.

We are small fry in the mix and are needed only to advance the control position over mineral resources that the new economic world power, China, wants to secure.

Yes, we will earn accelerated income from our exports to the mineral-hungry economic giants like India and China. But at what cost? Increased imports of manufactured goods, further loss of manufacturing jobs?

Yes, we will get help from China to rejuvenate our rail system and build other projects.. But Namibia is a very good example of how grand public projects have been financed through China and the local population gained very little or almost nothing. In fact, jobs were created for the financing "donor" country.

The moral aspect of our close affiliation in view of our stance on human rights is another puzzle. China and Russia are known for their disregard for human rights. Do we believe a giant like China will listen to moral lessons from Mickey Mouse South Africa? - Erwin, by e-mail