Former colonial powers are still draining wealth, but this can end if the continent unites and nurtures partnerships built on respect, Ndileka Mandela has told RT

Africa must shake off its legacy of dependence on Western colonial powers and seek true independence by boosting cooperation with partners such as Russia and the BRICS group, Ndileka Mandela has told RT.

In an exclusive interview ahead of International Africa Day, the granddaughter of late South African President Nelson Mandela said the continent remains constrained by economic control and financial systems that continue to favor Western interests over local development.

According to Mandela, her grandfather believed that true freedom and independence for Africa as a whole and South Africa in particular lies in regional unity and global partnerships rooted in equality.

"For Africa, the path to freedom isn't just about breaking free from old dependencies; it's about building new ones that align with our own values and interests," she said.

"Real freedom means harnessing our resources to benefit every South African. It means breaking free from the economic control that has kept us reliant on systems that don't serve our interests."

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Mandela called out Western countries and corporations for continuing to drain the country's natural resources long after the end of formal colonial rule. She argued that BRICS - which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and others - offers a path forward for African nations to break free from exploitative models and build prosperity on their own terms.

Mandela went on to say that cooperation with Russia within BRICS "helps pave the way toward a multipolar world." She praised Russia as a valuable partner capable of supporting Africa's growth without the strings attached by Western institutions.

"Within this alliance, our collaboration with Russia is a natural extension of shared goals... Russia can be a key partner in ensuring that South Africa and other BRICS nations are not dependent on any single global power," she said, adding that partnership with the group offers the means to build a resilient economy that values people over profit and builds prosperity for all, not for foreign or corporate interests.