South Africa’s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Thandi Moraka, has said that Africa’s economic rebirth hinges on stronger cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa, describing the two nations as pillars of the continent’s transformation.
Speaking during the Nigeria–South Africa Ministerial Business Roundtable, hosted by MTN on Thursday at the Rooftop Event Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos, Moraka said South Africa’s economic diplomacy depends on strategic partnerships with countries like Nigeria to unlock the continent’s industrial potential.
“Our partnership is not just political, but developmental in nature,” she said. “Africa’s transformation agenda depends on how its largest economies work together to unlock trade and industrial capabilities.”
Moraka emphasised that both nations are now entering the implementation phase of the 11th Bi-National Commission (BNC) resolutions, co-chaired by Presidents Ramaphosa and Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Cape Town in 2024. The new phase, she said, will translate commitments into practical cooperation across key sectors such as energy, defence, trade, technology, and mineral development.
She said, “We are now entering the implementation phase of the BNC decisions, which will go a long way in turning around the socioeconomic landscapes of our two nations. The BNC has instructed that political consultations between the two foreign ministers becomes a regular feature of our bilateral engagements between the Republic of South Africa and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
She added, “One of the most significant deliverables of the BNC was the directive to establish the joint ministerial advisory council that focuses mainly on industry development issues and dealing with trade and investment issues. This council will identify and remove trade and regulatory bottlenecks that have already been existing for quite some years.”
Moraka also urged African nations to move beyond exporting raw materials and focus on beneficiation and industrialisation. She said South Africa is ready to work with Nigeria to harness the value of critical minerals and expand trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
She said, “Gone are the days when raw minerals must just be extracted in the entire continent of Africa and they are taken to other continents and in that process, that’s how you are exporting your own GDPs of your countries. That’s how you are exporting job opportunities in the manner in which you export raw materials without beneficiating them and also industrialising your own economy.”
Moraka further lauded MTN for its role in deepening economic diplomacy through public-private collaboration, singling out the company’s Media Innovation Programme (MIP) for strengthening journalistic exchange and shaping positive African narratives.
As South Africa prepares to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in November, the Deputy Minister urged African countries to seize the opportunity to advance a unified continental agenda around renewable energy, technology, food security, and innovation.
Melissa Enoch
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