South Africa to push sports cooperation at 2026 BRICS meeting

South Africa will use the 22-23 August 2026 BRICS Sports Ministers’ Meeting in Visakhapatnam, India, to advance practical cooperation in sport. Deputy Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Peace Mabe will represent the country at the gathering on behalf of Minister Gayton McKenzie.

The meeting will be hosted by India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and will bring together ministers and representatives from BRICS member countries. Its theme is “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability.”

South Africa’s focus will be on identifying areas where BRICS partners can work together and turn shared priorities into concrete outcomes. Mabe is expected to argue that cooperation should support sports development across Africa and the wider Global South.

The country also wants the partnership to strengthen opportunities throughout the sports system, from grassroots participation to elite competition. The approach places sport within wider efforts to improve development and well-being while supporting unity, resilience and sustainable progress.

The meeting will also examine sport’s role in building relationships between countries, encouraging cultural exchange and promoting mutual understanding. A senior officials’ session will take place before the ministerial gathering and will prepare the Joint Ministerial Declaration.

Ministers will then consider adopting the declaration as the formal outcome of their discussions. South Africa’s participation is intended to help ensure that BRICS cooperation produces measures that reach communities and create stronger development pathways.