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12 April 2022

Webinar to examine SA foreign policy position on Russia-Ukraine conflict

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)
Press Release

Webinar to examine SA foreign policy position on Russia-Ukraine conflict

Pretoria, Saturday 9 April 2022 – The Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) BRICS Research Centre in collaboration with the University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) Centre for Africa-China Studies (CACS) invite members of the media to join a webinar to examine South Africa’s foreign policy position on Russia-Ukraine crisis. The virtual seminar will be held on Monday, 11 April 2022 at 14h00.

With the spotlight on South Africa’s contested position on the conflict, the webinar’s keynote address will be delivered by minister Lindiwe Zulu (Chair of the African National Congress (ANC) Subcommittee on International Relations), opening address by Prof William Gumede (Wits School of Governance Associate Professor and HSRC Honorary Research Fellow), and European Union delegation address by Raul de Luzenberger.

The panel will attempt to respond to questions such as: What explains South Africa’s stance on this conflict? Does it have to do with the African National Congress (ANC)’s historical ties with Russia? Is South Africa wearing a BRICS hat by withholding its condemnation of the Russian invasion/military operations in Ukraine? Can this position be read as evidence of South Africa’s agency and independence in international affairs? What can be learnt about South Africa’s understanding of its place in the future of the global order from its position on the ongoing war?

The webinar will be chaired by Prof David Monyae (Director at CACS), closing remarks by Dr Michael Cosser (Research Consultant, HSRC) while Dr Sizo Nkala (Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at CACS) will give a vote of thanks.

The details of the event are as follows:

Date:11 April 2022

Time:14h00 to 15h05

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/96457419291

For media interviews, please contact:  Adziliwi Nematandani, Contact numbers: 0827659191 or Email: anematandani@hsrc.ac.za

Drafted by Jones Nkone

About the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

The HSRC was established in 1968 as South Africa’s statutory research agency and has grown to become the largest dedicated research institute in the social sciences and humanities on the African continent, doing cutting-edge public research in areas that are crucial to development.

Our mandate is to inform the effective formulation and monitoring of government policy; to evaluate policy implementation; to stimulate public debate through the effective dissemination of research-based data and fact-based research results; to foster research collaboration; and to help build research capacity and infrastructure for the human sciences. 

The Council conducts large-scale, policy-relevant, social-scientific research for public sector users, non-governmental organizations, and international development agencies. Research activities and structures are closely aligned with South Africa’s national development priorities.

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This seminar is partially funded by the Department of Science and Innovation. The views and opinions expressed therein as well as findings and statements of the seminar series do not necessarily represent the views of the DSI. Please note that this seminar will be recorded and published on the HSRC podcast channel. The HSRC complies with the South African PoPIA and the Electronic Communications Transactions Act of 2002 Section 45: (1) any person who sends unsolicited commercial communications to stakeholders, must provide the stakeholders with the option to cancel their subscription to that mailing list. To opt-out or unsubscribe from this mailing list, please email us at mediaroom@hsrc.ac.za

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