President Cyril Ramaphosa will chair a high-level meeting of the Global Leaders Network (GLN), convened on the margins of the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) kicking off in eThekwini, this weekend.
Saturday’s meeting will focus on high-level commitments to secure the health and well-being of mothers and future generations.
The meeting brings together GLN Heads of State and Government, with participation open to SADC Member States and accredited observers.
“The meeting will highlight SADC’s leadership in advancing commitments on women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (WCAH), including efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality, improve access to family planning and sexual and reproductive health services, and strengthen health systems,” the Presidency said on Thursday.
Leaders will also consider the changing global health financing environment and the need for greater domestic resource mobilisation, health sovereignty and country-led approaches to sustain progress in women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health.
“The engagement is expected to reaffirm political commitment to WCAH as a national, regional and global development priority, support efforts to close financing gaps and strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and advance the SADC SRHR Scorecard within broader African Union frameworks,” the Presidency explained.
The gathering comes as South Africa is set to host the high level SADC summit taking place on 16-17 August 2026.
The summit is one of the highest-level diplomatic and decision-making platforms in the region, with leaders, diplomats, government officials, and delegates from the 16 Member States poised to attend.
This READ | Spotlight swings to Durban as SADC Summit nears
This week, International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola accepted the SADC Chairpersonship for 2026 – 2027 on behalf of South Africa, during the SADC Council of Ministers meeting. -SAnews.gov.za
