Venezuela is getting closer to South Africa after submitting an application to join BRICS, the global alliance of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
According to reports, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil hosted the Second Deputy General Secretary of the South African Communist Party, Solly Mapaila.
Their talks centred around a political agreement dealing hydrocarbons, plans to boost the oil industry, and possible South African private investment in Venezuelan oil projects.
The leaders also raised possible cooperation between their central banks under the BRICS umbrella.
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro was due to visit South Africa next week but his trip was cancelled.
Daily Maverick reported: President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said in a statement on Wednesday that the visit had been postponed to a date “to be mutually agreed by both countries through diplomatic channels”.
