Brazil, Russia, India, and China, the BRIC countries, exist in a state of ever becoming. All four have massive potential economies, sometimes can play with the big boys (meaning basically the United States and certain of the European Union countries) and want to have a permanent role in the game. South Africa has wanted to join them for some time and continues to pursue affiliation.
To be truthful I’m not certain what it would mean were South Africa to be granted membership (or should that be “membership”?) tomorrow. Were BRIC to become BRICS tomorrow, would there be any tangible benefit to the South African economy or would this be more of a symbolic step, a recognition of South Africa’s place at the table? I’d as soon see South Africa really push for Africa to gain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and to make the case that South Africa ought to hold that seat, not that the two are mutually exclusive.