South Africa is preparing to host the 46th Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government later this month, with regional leaders expected to adopt decisions aimed at accelerating industrialisation, strengthening infrastructure development, enhancing food security and advancing regional integration.
The summit, which will be held in Durban on 17 August, will also see President Cyril Ramaphosa formally assume the SADC Chairpersonship for the 2026/27 term, marking South Africa's leadership of the 16-member regional bloc at a time of growing geopolitical and economic challenges.
Briefing the media in Pretoria on Wednesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said South Africa was honoured to host the summit under the theme: “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World”.
The summit process officially began this week with technical meetings at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and will culminate in the Heads of State and Government Summit on 17 August.
According to Lamola, the summit follows a structured programme of technical, ministerial and political meetings designed to prepare decisions for adoption by Heads of State and Government.
The Standing Committee of Senior Officials will meet from 6 to 7 August to consider reports from sectoral structures before making recommendations to ministers.
This will be followed by the Finance Committee meeting on 8 August, where member states will consider the SADC budget, resource mobilisation and financial sustainability matters.
Between 9 and 11 August, officials will finalise documentation before the SADC Council of Ministers convenes from 12 to 14 August under Minister Lamola's chairpersonship.
The Council of Ministers will consider recommendations from senior officials and deliberate on issues including industrialisation, infrastructure, regional trade, food security, health, peace and security, regional financing and institutional reforms.
The summit programme will also feature President Cyril Ramaphosa's SADC Public Lecture on 14 August at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Westville Campus. The lecture is expected to stimulate dialogue on implementing SADC Vision 2050 and strengthening regional integration.
Regional peace and security will also feature prominently through meetings of the Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation on 15 August, followed by the Organ Troika Summit on 16 August.
Heads of State and Government are expected to arrive on 16 August ahead of the official summit opening and a State Banquet hosted by President Ramaphosa.
Focus on implementation
Lamola said preparations are centred on ensuring SADC decisions are more effective, measurable and capable of implementation.
Among the issues under consideration is strengthening the quality of Council and Summit decisions through improved monitoring and accountability mechanisms.
Member States will also consider a proposed framework for SADC Presidential Champions, which will see Heads of State champion priority regional development programmes including infrastructure development, industrialisation, agriculture, mining, resource mobilisation and social development.
Another key priority is advancing implementation of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030, which remains SADC's primary development blueprint.
Key outcomes expected
The Minister said Heads of State and Government are expected to consider 47 decisions submitted through the summit process, although that number could change following deliberations during preparatory meetings.
Among the expected outcomes are:
• Accelerating regional industrialisation and regional value chains;
• Strengthening infrastructure connectivity and transport corridors;
• Enhancing agricultural productivity and food security;
• Advancing beneficiation of critical minerals;
• Improving regional peace, security and stability;
• Strengthening resource mobilisation through the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund;
• Enhancing implementation and monitoring of SADC decisions; and
• Strengthening institutional effectiveness through the Rationalisation Mechanism and Presidential Champions Initiative.
Lamola said the summit presents an opportunity for member states to strengthen regional cooperation and pursue inclusive economic growth.
Migration to feature prominently
Lamola said South Africa would use the platform to articulate its approach to migration management while promoting greater regional cooperation.
He said government remained committed to managing migration in a lawful, orderly, humane and effective manner in line with the Constitution and South Africa's international obligations.
Government's approach includes strengthening border security, combating irregular migration, addressing the unlawful employment of undocumented migrants, improving enforcement of immigration and labour legislation and tackling corruption within migration systems.
South Africa will also encourage greater regional cooperation in addressing migration challenges while promoting stability, development and respect for human rights. - SAnews.gov.za
