Nucleus Institute

A network of thinkers & activists committed to South African democracy, led by Mcebisi Jonas

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

@WandileSihlobo Congratulations, @WandileSihlobo!

[Wandile Sihlobo @WandileSihlobo]

@richardcalland @BusinessDay very important piece, and links nicely with the conversation we had at @Nucleus_za las week.

[Thando Maeko @HelloThando]

Fascinating discussion on the role of middle powers from a South African and Canadian perspective hosted by Nucleus Institute which is headed by former deputy finance minister, Mcebisi Jonas @BDliveSA

[Wandile Sihlobo @WandileSihlobo]

We thank the folks at @Nucleus_za Institute for the very stimulating and informative conversations we had yesterday in Jo’burg about the Middle Powers, with key insights from Canada and South Africa.

I got to listen to very informative speakers and facilitated the closing session with President Kgalema Motlanthe, the excellent Trudi Makhaya, and the deeply insightful Mr Mcebisi Jonas.

[Mpumelelo Mkhabela, PhD @MMkhabel]

Businessman and founder of think-tank Nucleus, Mcebisi Jonas, calls for a "Middlepower Compact" between South Africa and like-minded states. #MiddlePowersNucleus

[Mpumelelo Mkhabela, PhD @MMkhabel]

Jonas says the moment for Middle Powers is now, to deal with global challenges: from reforming Brettonwoods institutions to resisting bullying, populism and ensuring global solidarity, economic growth and stability. #MiddlePowersNucleus

[Mpumelelo Mkhabela, PhD @MMkhabel]

Canada's High Commissioner James Christoff says his country is pursuing strategic autonomy. [The US has slapped Canada with 50% tarriffs causing a fresh round of frosty relations between President Trump and Prime Minister Carney]. #MiddlePowersNucleus

[Vuslat Bayoglu @VuslatBayoglu]

James Christoff, High Commissioner for Canada in South Africa is delivering his speech on Canada’s perspective regarding middle power alignment. #NucleusMiddlePowers @Nucleus_za

[Vuslat Bayoglu @VuslatBayoglu]

Gina Schoeman of Citi Bank says who would have guessed last year the currency and bond market would be where it is now!
She adds that GNU matured up and government is trying to deliver decisively.
She mentions;
🚩No more load shedding
🚩Logistics reform
🚩Reforms in monetary and fiscal policies
#NucleusMiddlePowers

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

Wandile Sihlobo: Not all members of SADC share the same opinions about what must happen to develop the region. So how do we begin to define priorities? #NucleusMiddlePowers

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

Mcebisi Jonas: South Africa does not have a national “obsession”. Until we have a shared narrative that we can build around, we will continue to be lost, and different stakeholders will work in their own self-interest. #NucleusMiddlePowers

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

Trudi Makhaya: There will be winners and losers when trade policy is formulated. We have to think clearly about those metrics, and we have to articulate the way forward taking the “losers” into account. #NucleusMiddlePowers

[Nelson Muffuh @nmuffuh]

Valuable insights from @WandileSihlobo at #NucleusMiddlePowers: Useful reminder that economic diplomacy underpins South Africa’s middle-power ambitions. In an era of geoeconomics, influence increasingly comes from being indispensable to trade, investment, value chains & solutions

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

Former President Kgalema Motlanthe: Capital will not go to a place where there is no rule of law. It will go elsewhere. And in the vacuum, the mafia state deepens and formalises. #NucleusMiddlePowers

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

His Excellency James Christoff, High Commissioner of Canada in SA: By working together—bilaterally & within multilateral fora—we can help ensure that we are not merely adapting to a fractured world, but actively shaping a more stable, prosperous & just one for our citizens.

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

Nucleus Founder & Director Mcebisi Jonas: Does our foreign & trade policy adequately reflect&adapt to the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world, unlikely to revert to the old situation of hard-wired bipolarity? This is fundamental to how we survive the current storm.

[Nelson Muffuh @nmuffuh]

Thought-provoking exchanges at #NucleusMiddlePowers. Thanks to @McebisiJonas and fellow @Nucleus_za panellists. The real currency of influence may no longer be dominance, but indispensability: the ability to convene, connect and mobilise collective action for people and planet.

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

Jonas: Is it fair to call South Africa’s engagement with the US, China, Europe, the Gulf, India, Russia & others fence-sitting? Or is it often a different reading of the moment, organised around development, infrastructure, security & market sovereignty?

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

#NucleusMiddlePowers Mcebisi Jonas:
We are living through an era where history is being remade daily, not just as the tragedy and farce that Karl Marx referred to an age ago, but to the extent that the reshaping of the world now creates somewhat of an existential crisis.

[Nucleus Institute @Nucleus_za]

South Africa’s influence has often rested on the moral capital of the democratic transition, our constitutional order & on our ability to connect our national position to a wider African & Global South agenda. But that form of influence is fragile, relying on credibility & trust.

[Denisha @Denisha11159562]

@Nucleus_za Love this framework. It moves past just reacting to crises and focuses on actively building the future we want🙂