Former president Thabo Mbeki met with the Brazilian President Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Sandton, Johannesburg.
The two leaders met at the time South Africa was hosting the major global event.
There are more than 23 countries that have expressed an interest to join BRICS.
Lula first met with African National Congress (ANC) leaders including chairperson Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane.
ANC leaders will on Wednesday meet with the president of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel. The ANC has strong relations with Cuba going back decades ago.
After meeting with the ANC, Lula then met with Mbeki on the sidelines of the summit.
Lula told the BRICS Business Forum earlier that BRICS was growing as a bloc and this has been demonstrated at the business forum.
“Our countries together make up a third of the world’s economy. This relevance will grow with the entry of new full members and dialogue partners,” said Lula.
He called on the countries in the Global South to strengthen relations and trade.
Lula also told the forum that BRICS was not a counter-group against anyone.
The BRICS summit started on Tuesday and will end on Thursday.
South Africa has hosted it three times since it joined BRICS in 2010.
It first hosted BRICS in 2013, then in 2018 and now in 2023.