A call for shared humanity in Johannesburg

Johannesburg played host to an unusually reflective moment this week. At a time when many global conversations feel tense or fragmented, Independent Media Chairman Dr Iqbal Survé stood before a hall of delegates and offered a message shaped by unity rather than rivalry. His address at the Global South Media and Think Tank Forum China Africa Partnership Conference was centred on one idea: the world needs to become more humane and more balanced, and the Global South has both the responsibility and potential to lead that shift.

More than two hundred participants filled the venue, representing media organisations, think tanks, and government institutions from forty-one African countries, along with delegations from China and the African Union. The gathering forms part of a growing movement to rethink global governance and reframe the role of African and Asian nations in shaping international narratives.

Global South voices at the front

Survé opened his keynote by acknowledging delegates from across the continent and Asia. He described the forum as an important space where the Global South can speak in its own voice. Independent Media co-hosted the event with Xinhua News Agency, a partnership that Survé praised for its long-term commitment to strengthening cooperation between African and Chinese media institutions.

He reflected on the shared task of rewriting the global story. For too long, he said, the South has been defined by others. Media leaders, academics, and thinkers now have an opportunity to tell their own stories and present their own perspectives. As chairman of the BRICS Media Forum since 2018, Survé said he has seen cooperation deepen among member countries, supported by a collective desire to build trust and advance nuanced narratives.

China and Africa’s partnership under the spotlight

The theme of the conference was Reforming Global Governance: New Roles and Visions for China-Africa Cooperation. Survé described it as timely. He noted that the world is undergoing profound political, economic, and social shifts, and that traditional centres of power are no longer the only places shaping global direction. In his view, China-Africa ties show what respectful, mutually beneficial partnerships can look like, especially at a time when many countries in the Global South are pushing for a more equitable international system.

He emphasised that China-Africa cooperation has never been about dominance. Instead, it is driven by shared goals, a spirit of collaboration, and a belief in fairness. This, he said, is the type of partnership that can help create a more inclusive global order.

The role of media and thought leaders

Throughout his address, Survé returned to the responsibility carried by journalists, scholars, and policy thinkers. The stories they choose to highlight, and the truths they uphold, shape perceptions far beyond the continent’s borders. Forums like this one, he said, create pathways for deeper understanding. They encourage collaboration at a time when the world is increasingly divided.

The hall included City of Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, as well as senior media and academic figures from several African countries. Their presence underlined Johannesburg’s continued role as a hub for continental dialogue.

A personal reflection on history

Toward the end of his speech, Survé shared a moment of personal history. He had recently taken his family to Robben Island, a site forever linked to the story of Nelson Mandela and other liberation heroes. Survé said he was a young doctor and confidant of Mandela during the early years of South Africa’s transition, and he recalled conversations they shared about China. Mandela saw China as a long-standing friend of Africa, a nation that valued partnership and mutual respect.

Survé spoke about Mandela’s visit to China years later and how Xinhua captured powerful images of that journey. He said Mandela believed China would play a key role in promoting shared humanity and that Africa should continue to nurture that relationship.

A closing message of unity

Survé concluded by urging delegates to use the forum to strengthen solidarity across the Global South. He said the future of global decision-making should not be shaped elsewhere. It should be built by the countries represented in the room, supported by cooperation, innovation, and shared purpose.

His message was clear: humanity advances when nations listen to one another. The conversations held in Johannesburg this week form part of that journey.

Also read: Pretoria High School for Girls hit by court setback in racism-investigation battle

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com

Source: IOL

Featured Image: Dr Iqbal Survé