Zuma: Africa cannot be bypassed

Africa cannot be bypassed by the events that are changing the landscape economically, socially, and politically in the world, South African President Jacob Zuma said here on Thursday. Zuma was speaking at the plenary session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa 2013, which kicked off in Cape Town on Wednesday and will end on Friday. Countries in Africa had been overlooked too many times when it came to major world events, Zuma said. "Africa's attitude to itself and how it should interact towards the world has changed," Zuma said. He said South Africa's joining the BRICS group would help uplift Africa on the international arena. South Africa's membership of the BRICS group represents a turning point for Africa and its economic activities, Zuma said, adding that South Africa would represent Africa's more than 1 billion people through its membership of BRICS. BRICS refers to the world's emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. "This time around, the BRICS links indicate that Africa cannot be bypassed by the events that are changing the landscape economically, socially, and politically in the world," he said. Talks between BRICS partners and African leaders had been facilitated in this regard, he said.