President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia, for a high-stakes State Visit, completing a symbolic journey that began over the weekend in the United States.
The President's itinerary — moving from the funeral of civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson in Chicago to bilateral talks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva — highlights South Africa's dual role as a moral voice in the Global South and a rising economic power within the BRICS+ framework.
A farewell to a “Brother in the Struggle”
Before touching down in South America, President Ramaphosa spent the weekend in Chicago,Illinois, paying his final respects to Rev. Jesse Jackson, who passed away in February 2026 at the age of 84.
Speaking at a private “homecoming” service on Saturday,March 7,Ramaphosa delivered a stirring tribute that framed Jackson as more than just an American ally. He described Jackson as a “brother in the struggle,” noting his pivotal role in mobilising international disinvestment against the apartheid regime during the 1970s and 80s.
“Belonging is not determined by the soil on which you were born,” Ramaphosa told the mourners. “Belonging is determined by the soil on which you choose to join the fight against an evil, racist, and oppressive system.”
The President was joined by former U.S. President Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Joe Biden, marking a rare moment of global unity to honour a man who bridged the gap between the U.S. civil rights movement and the South African liberation struggle.
Strengthening the South-South Axis
Upon arriving at Brasilia's Palacio do Planalto today, March 9, the atmosphere shifted from solemn remembrance to strategic economic partnership. This State Visit( March 9-10) is designed to convert decades of political solidarity between South Africa and Brazil into tangible trade outcomes.
This visit is particularly significant as both nations are key anchors of the Global South, sharing memberships in BRICS, IBSA, and the G20.
Key objectives of the Brazil visit
- Trade Expansion: Addressing the South Africa-Brazil Business Forum to unlock opportunities in agribusiness, aerospace, and pharmaceuticals.
- Energy Cooperation: Exploring joint ventures in green hydrogen and renewable energy technologies.
- Global Governance: Aligning positions on the reform of the United Nations Security Council and the international financial architecture.
- Defence & Technology: Strengthening bilateral ties in satellite technology and defence engineering.
South Africa and Brazil remain the largest economies in their respective regions (Africa and Latin America), and this visit signals a move to create more direct trade routes and reduce dependency on Northern-hemisphere financial hubs.