Looking East Gives South Africa More Options to Empower Youth, SA Official Says
Looking East Gives South Africa More Options to Empower Youth, SA Official Says
South Africa’s expanding education partnership with China reflects a broader shift toward diversified global cooperation and skills development, Gauteng government spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga told Sputnik Africa.
Mhlanga said the province of Gauteng has benefited from a long-standing protocol agreement with China that spans education, culture and economic cooperation. Through exchange programmes, South Africans have travelled to China for training and exposure to best practices that can be adapted locally.
He added that Gauteng’s position as South Africa’s economic hub and a gateway to the continent makes it well placed to deepen such partnerships “for the benefit of our citizens.”
He highlighted tangible gains for students, noting that around 3,000 South Africans are studying in China, with some learning Mandarin. Mandarin has also been introduced in South African schools, supported by Chinese-funded experts, helping students engage with global systems across technology, education and culture.
Mhlanga said cooperation among BRICS countries has become increasingly important as Africa seeks alternatives to Western-dominated frameworks.
He argued that “for the longest time in history, the West has been controlling our lives,” but shifting geopolitics and innovation trends are opening new opportunities in the East, particularly in ICT and education.
The partnership sends a clear message to young South Africans about their place in a multipolar world, he added.
Exposure to China’s technological and educational advances, he said, encourages learners to think differently, be innovative and “not look in one direction,” as global influence increasingly shifts toward Africa and Asia.
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