Cabinet approves SADC troika strategy

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Pretoria - Cabinet has approved the proposed strategy for South Africa's terms of chairmanship of the South African Development Community (SADC) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

South Africa, which took over the hot seat in August, will collectively be responsible for policy guidance and oversee the implementation of decisions between the summits, Cabinet spokesperson Jimmy Manyi said on Thursday.

He said the executive had noted SADC Election Observer Missions leadership was needed in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Lesotho and possibly Zimbabwe and Madagascar.

"Cabinet further noted that full engagement is required to improve management systems and procedures in the SADC Secretariat and supports the establishment of an interdepartmental core group under the leadership of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation," Manyi said.

When SA assumed the seat, President Jacob Zuma committed to continue taking critical steps of creating conditions for peace, stability and good neighbourliness as a prerequisite for regional economic integration.