Welcome to the Gangster World
I see a world where power matters more than rules. A sitting president was removed by force. Institutions reacted later. This tells me that international law protects the weak only when strong states allow it. That reality undermines the principles South Africa says it defends.
I question BRICS effectiveness. If BRICS cannot prevent or meaningfully respond to such an event, then its influence is limited.
• We issue statements.
• We condemn actions.
• We change nothing.
That makes BRICS look symbolic rather than strategic.
I also worry about the cost of our positioning. South Africa condemns the United States while depending on Western markets for trade, investment, and finance. I ask what we gain in return. Principles matter. So do jobs, exports, and growth.
I feel the impact closer to home through energy prices.
• Venezuela instability tightens oil supply.
• Fuel prices rise.
• Transport and food costs follow.
I pay for this through inflation, not through speeches at the UN.
I struggle with consistency. We speak loudly about sovereignty in Venezuela. We stay quieter when partners violate the same norms. That weakens our credibility and turns moral arguments into selective politics.
I see the deeper risk. Moving closer to BRICS powers may reduce Western pressure. It does not guarantee economic relief for ordinary South Africans. Dependence simply shifts from one bloc to another.
My conclusion is blunt. If South Africa’s foreign policy delivers symbolism without material benefit, then I carry the cost while elites collect the applause.
