President Cyril Ramaphosa will host Southern African leaders in Durban next month when South Africa assumes the chairship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government.
The summit, scheduled for 17 August 2026 at the Durban International Convention Centre, will bring together Heads of State and Government from the 16-member regional bloc to deliberate on key issues affecting the region's economic growth, security and integration.
President Ramaphosa will chair the summit under the theme: "Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World."
According to the SADC Secretariat, the theme underscores the importance of infrastructure development, agriculture and critical minerals in advancing industrialisation while building a region that is competitive, climate resilient, socially inclusive and capable of delivering a prosperous future for its citizens.
Among the key issues expected to dominate discussions are the state of the SADC region, including global, continental and regional economic trends, progress in implementing decisions adopted at previous summits, and the implementation of commitments made at the 45th SADC Summit held in Madagascar last year.
Leaders are also expected to consider the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund, which is aimed at financing regional development projects and programmes, as well as regional food and nutrition security, disaster preparedness and the strengthening of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre.
The impact of global geopolitical developments on the SADC region is also expected to feature prominently on the summit agenda.
The summit will be preceded by a series of meetings and side events beginning with the Annual SADC Industrialisation Week from 27 to 31 July.
Other meetings include the Standing Committee of Senior Officials, the Finance Committee, the SADC Council of Ministers, a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, as well as meetings of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
The annual summit is the highest decision-making body of SADC and sets the strategic direction for regional cooperation, integration and development. – SAnews.gov.za
