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South African Foreign Ministry Rejects Accusations of Squandering Money on BRICS Summit

12:26, 1 November 2023

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MOSCOW (Sputnik) - On Tuesday, the opposition Democratic Alliance party accused the country's foreign ministry of splurging over $5 million on a three-day BRICS summit in August, which "could have been spent on addressing the crippling cost of living crisis that South Africans are currently battling."

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The South African Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed the opposition Democratic Alliance party's accusations of squandering money on hosting the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, saying that the benefits outweigh the costs of such events.

"The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) is dismayed by the misguided statement issued by the Democratic Alliance's member of Parliament, Ms Emma Louise Powell, regarding the costs associated with hosting the recently held XV Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) Summit in Johannesburg. The hysterical reaction of the Democratic Alliance confirms the DA's misunderstanding of the economic benefits of hosting such international conferences and other meetings. While it is true that just over R100 million [$5.3 million], as reported by DIRCO, was contributed towards the successful hosting of the BRICS Summit, the economic benefits to the City of Johannesburg far outweigh the R100 million DIRCO contributed," the ministry said.

It also recommended the opposition party members "familiarize themselves with the immense benefits of BRICS membership before making unfounded comments in public."

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BRICS currently includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. In August, the 15th top-level BRICS summit in Johannesburg extended invitations to Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to join the bloc. Their full membership will start on January 1, 2024.