Category: Africa

South African citrus exporters are set to benefit from improved market access to India, following the approval of additional treatment options for fresh citrus fruit after nearly a decade of negotiations. 

In a statement, the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA) and the Department of Agriculture announced that India has approved additional fruit fly cold treatment options, which will allow the quality of the fruit in the market to improve and add important logistical flexibility. 

South Africa already exports citrus to India using various fruit-fly treatment protocols. 

Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp welcomed the development, saying “it indicates how advanced technology enables South African farmers to push barriers to have other countries enjoy our high-quality produce.” 

With a population of approximately 1.47 billion people and one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies, India presents significant growth potential for South African citrus exporters. 

Despite this, India’s share of exports from South Africa is very small and thus presents an exceptional opportunity for growth. 

India is itself one of the world’s largest citrus producers, with consumers already familiar with the product category. 

South Africa’s counter-seasonal production provides an opportunity to complement domestic supply, particularly as the middle class expands, health-conscious consumption grows and demand for mandarin-type citrus increases. 

Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa Chief Executive Officer, Dr Boitshoko Ntshabele, commended the Department of Agriculture and Citrus Research International for their continued technical engagement with Indian authorities that have made the new treatment options possible.

“This demonstrates the importance of sustained public-private partnership in improving technical conditions for accessing markets,” Ntshabele said. 

He also emphasised that attention should now shift towards improving the commercial conditions under which South African citrus enters the Indian market.

Most-Favoured-Nation tariffs of approximately 25-30% continue to place South African citrus at a disadvantage compared with Southern Hemisphere competitors benefiting from preferential tariff arrangements.

“We look forward to working with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) on the critical task of addressing these tariff barriers and improving the competitiveness of South African citrus in the Indian market going forward,” Ntshabele said.

The CGA said that with positive developments in the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) -India Preferential Trade Agreement process, continued momentum towards improved preferential access will help unlock India’s great market potential and support the long-term sustainability and diversification of the South African citrus industry.

“The CGA sees combining improved phytosanitary market access with more competitive tariff conditions as being key to growing South Africa’s presence in India and supporting the long-term sustainability, growth and diversification of the South African citrus industry.” – SAnews.gov.za

9

South Africa will place infrastructure development at the centre of its year-long Chairship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with SADC Chairperson, President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling for faster implementation of regional corridors, railways, ports, roads, energy and water projects.

Closing the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit in eThekwini on Monday evening, President Ramaphosa said infrastructure would be critical to turning the region’s industrialisation ambitions into factories, jobs, trade and economic opportunity.

For President Ramaphosa, industrialisation cannot be separated from the infrastructure needed to move goods, people, energy and resources across borders.

“Our region is richly endowed. We have minerals that are critical to the industries of the future. We have vast agricultural potential. We have abundant renewable energy resources. We have a young population and a growing market.

“Our task is to convert these endowments into factories, farms, enterprises, skills, exports and jobs. For this to happen, we are committed to build the infrastructure that binds our economies together.

“South Africa will therefore place infrastructure development at the centre of its Chairship of SADC,” President Ramaphosa said. 

The announcement gives practical expression to South Africa’s Chairship priorities and positions infrastructure as the connective tissue between industrialisation, regional trade and economic development. 

The Summit adopted a theme focused on accelerating industrialisation, building on the region’s previous commitments to agricultural transformation, energy transition and greater productive capacity.

Southern Africa possesses significant mineral resources, agricultural potential and renewable energy resources, as well as a young and growing population. But converting these advantages into economic growth requires infrastructure capable of linking production to markets. 

Corridors as arteries of regional integration

A major focus of South Africa’s Chairship will therefore be the development and efficient functioning of regional corridors.

President Ramaphosa said the corridors should become “arteries of regional integration”, connecting production centres to markets, linking landlocked countries to ports and allowing goods, services and people to move more efficiently and at lower cost.

“We therefore call on corridor countries to conclude and implement the necessary legal and institutional arrangements required to operationalise these corridors,” he said. 

The emphasis on corridors builds on SADC’s long-standing regional infrastructure agenda, including the Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan (RIDMP), which identifies transport connectivity as a critical component of regional integration.

The region has also recognised that infrastructure investment cannot be considered in isolation from trade facilitation. Inefficient border procedures, fragmented systems and delays can undermine the economic value of major roads, railways and ports.

The Cross-Border Road Transport Agency has identified the reduction of mobility constraints and the improvement of the unimpeded flow of freight and commuters as central to cross-border transport and regional integration. 

Its strategic work has included support for One-Stop Border Posts, corridor efficiency, harmonised standards and procedures, and the development of cross-border transport partnerships.

From roads to rail and ports

President Ramaphosa said South Africa would also work with the region to revitalise railway networks, expand and modernise ports and improve road and logistics systems.

“We know that without efficient infrastructure, there can be no competitive regional economy,” he said.

The emphasis is particularly important for landlocked SADC countries, whose economies depend on efficient transport corridors to access regional and international markets.

The development of corridors can also support regional industrialisation by allowing countries to specialise in different stages of production while ensuring that components, raw materials and finished products can move efficiently between them.

This is central to SADC’s ambition to develop regional value chains rather than simply exporting raw materials.

The SADC Annual Corporate Plan for 2026/27 identifies industrial development and market integration, infrastructure development in support of regional integration, and increased intra-SADC trade as core priorities.

Energy as another pillar

Infrastructure under South Africa’s Chairship will not be confined to transport.

President Ramaphosa said SADC was determined to increase access to electricity across the region to at least 85 percent by 2030.

“But access alone is not enough. Our households and businesses need electricity that is reliable, affordable and increasingly generated from the diverse energy resources with which our region is blessed.

“We will strengthen regional electricity interconnection and accelerate investment in generation and transmission infrastructure so that energy can move efficiently between our countries,” he said. 

This is particularly important as SADC seeks to industrialise. Reliable energy is necessary for manufacturing, mining, agriculture, digital infrastructure and small businesses, while regional electricity trading can help countries balance differences in generation capacity and demand.

The same infrastructure logic, the President said, must apply to water and sanitation.

“We will bring the same urgency to water and sanitation,” he said. 

He framed such investment not merely as capital expenditure, but as an investment in the region’s people and productive capacity.

“Investment in water, sanitation, energy and transport infrastructure is not simply investment in physical assets.

“It is investment in human dignity, economic opportunity and the future productive capacity of our region,” he said.

Financing the ambition

The scale of the infrastructure agenda raises a central question: where will the money come from? 

President Ramaphosa said South Africa’s Chairship would support stronger mobilisation of domestic, regional and international resources for implementation of the RISDP and SADC Vision 2050.

A key component will be the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund.

The Fund is designed to provide a regional financing mechanism for economic development and sustainable growth. Its operationalisation has been repeatedly identified by SADC as an important step towards addressing financing gaps for regional programmes and projects.

Recent SADC engagements with the African Development Bank have similarly focused on infrastructure financing, industrialisation, private-sector participation and innovative financing solutions.

President Ramaphosa said the region should mobilise its own resources to finance its development priorities while continuing to work with international financial institutions, development partners and the private sector.

The test is implementation

President Ramaphosa said SADC had developed the strategies, institutions and reforms needed to deepen regional integration, but the focus must now shift to implementation.

“The challenge before us is therefore implementation,” he said.

He said progress should be measured not by meetings held and resolutions adopted, but by tangible outcomes, including kilometres of railway rehabilitated, megawatts of electricity generated and transmitted, reduced border-crossing times, factories established, increased intra-regional trade and jobs created.

For South Africa’s Chairship, this means using its convening role to drive infrastructure projects, financing mechanisms and reforms that translate regional commitments into tangible benefits for citizens.

“Let us build a Southern Africa that is peaceful, integrated, industrialised and prosperous. And let us build it together,” the SADC Chair said. – SAnews.gov.za

4

Southern Africa’s ambition to deepen regional integration will increasingly be tested at its borders, with President Cyril Ramaphosa calling for the accelerated establishment of One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and the modernisation of systems that govern the movement of goods and people across the region. 

Closing the 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in eThekwini on Monday evening, President Ramaphosa placed more efficient borders at the heart of South Africa’s Chairship, linking them to regional industrialisation, infrastructure development and lower costs of trade. 

He said the objective was straightforward: goods and people should not lose valuable time at borders because neighbouring countries operate disconnected systems.

“We must accelerate the establishment of the identified One-Stop Border Posts. A truck carrying goods across Southern Africa should not spend days waiting at a border,” he said. 

The President said borders should facilitate legitimate trade and movement while retaining effective security and customs controls.

“Our borders must facilitate legitimate trade and movement while maintaining effective security and customs controls,” the SADC Chair said. 

From two stops to one

One-Stop Border Posts are designed to address one of the most persistent obstacles to efficient cross-border movement: the duplication of processes when travellers and trucks are required to stop at separate border facilities operated by neighbouring countries.

The Cross-Border Road Transport Agency (C-BRTA) has identified inland border posts as a major constraint on the unimpeded flow of cross-border traffic, with challenges including inadequate infrastructure, fragmented systems, multiple stakeholders operating in silos and different operating arrangements between countries.

SADC’s Regional Infrastructure Development Master Plan has prioritised the transformation of traditional two-stop borders into One-Stop Border Posts.

The C-BRTA has identified a number of OSBPs and regional border initiatives, including Chirundu, Kazungula, Kasumbalesa, Lebombo and Mamuno, as part of broader efforts to improve corridor efficiency.

The significance of the President’s call is therefore not simply about constructing new border facilities. It is about changing the way border agencies and neighbouring countries work together.

Cross-border transport transformation

South Africa has been pursuing a broader transformation of its cross-border road transport system through improved regulation, digital services and efforts to reduce operational constraints.

The C-BRTA’s mandate includes improving the unimpeded flow of freight and commuters across the SADC region, reducing operational constraints, facilitating market access and supporting social and economic development.

The Agency has also introduced digital tools such as Cross-Easy, which allows cross-border operators to apply for permits online, track applications, make payments and receive notifications digitally.

The system forms part of efforts to reduce administrative burdens and improve the experience of freight and passenger operators.

The C-BRTA is also pursuing an Operator Compliance Accreditation System designed to reduce transit delays and improve supply-chain visibility and corridor efficiency by using risk-based compliance mechanisms.

These interventions point towards a broader transformation in which physical infrastructure is combined with digital systems, regulatory harmonisation and better coordination between border agencies.

Digitising the border

The transformation is also taking place at regional level.

SADC and its tripartite partners have been developing digital systems to make the movement of people and goods more efficient.

The Corridor Trip Monitoring System (CTMS), developed under the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme, is designed to integrate transport, immigration and customs systems and provide advance information on drivers, crew and passengers.

The system also supports electronic documentation, cargo tracking and corridor performance monitoring, with the broader objective of reducing travel and transit times and enabling more efficient border procedures.

SADC has described digital transformation as a critical enabler of its Vision 2050 objectives, with technology expected to support more efficient state structures, economic activity, skills development and job creation.

The region’s previous work on migration has likewise identified digital interventions, e-visas and cross-border identity management as important tools for facilitating movement while strengthening security.

This is increasingly important as SADC attempts to balance two objectives that are sometimes presented as competing: making legitimate movement easier while making it more difficult for criminals and irregular movements to exploit weaknesses in border systems.

Making migration management smarter

Migration featured in the President’s broader call for a more connected region.

SADC’s approach recognises that migration is a permanent feature of regional economic and social life and that well-managed migration can contribute to development, labour markets and regional integration.

The region has previously identified the need for coordinated migration policies, stronger migration data systems and measures that facilitate safe and regular movement of people. Its Labour Migration Action Plan was designed to strengthen labour migration governance, protect migrant workers and increase their contribution to socio-economic development.

Digital systems are becoming increasingly important to this agenda.

South Africa itself has been modernising migration management through electronic visa systems and the Electronic Travel Authorisation, with the Department of Home Affairs describing digital migration management as a means of improving efficiency while strengthening security and supporting tourism and economic growth.

At regional level, the proposed SADC Tourism UNIVISA is another example of how migration and tourism policy can intersect. The proposed instrument seeks to facilitate tourism travel across participating SADC countries through a common visa arrangement.

The border as an economic instrument

For the region’s industrialisation ambitions, the border is more than an immigration checkpoint.

It is part of the economic infrastructure.

A truck delayed for hours or days at a border adds costs to manufacturers, exporters, importers and consumers. Delays can disrupt supply chains, reduce the competitiveness of regional producers and undermine the value of investments made in roads, rail and ports.

The Department of Transport has acknowledged that long queues at strategic borders affect regional logistics value chains and place strain on transport infrastructure and cargo security. 

South Africa has consequently been working on improved processing capacity at critical crossings including Beitbridge, Lebombo and Maseru Bridge, alongside greater inter-agency coordination and digitisation of border procedures.

This is why President Ramaphosa’s call for OSBPs sits directly within South Africa’s wider Chairship priority of infrastructure-led regional integration.

The objective is to connect the entire logistics chain from production centre, through roads and railways, to ports and across borders, rather than improving one component while leaving bottlenecks elsewhere.

A border that connects rather than divides

The President’s closing address ultimately framed the issue in terms of what regional integration should feel like for citizens.

He said Southern Africa should move towards a region where borders connect rather than divide its people, and where the benefits of integration are visible in everyday life.

This means faster movement for freight operators, more predictable conditions for businesses, easier travel for tourists and legitimate travellers, and stronger systems to combat trafficking and other cross-border crimes.

It also means making existing regional commitments work.

SADC has already developed strategies, protocols and digital initiatives aimed at facilitating trade and movement. The challenge now is to bring these instruments together at the border and ensure that they function in practice.

President Ramaphosa said the region must judge itself by measurable outcomes rather than the number of resolutions adopted.

“We must measure our progress not only in meetings held and agreements signed, but in kilometres of railway rehabilitated, megawatts of electricity generated and transmitted, border-crossing times reduced, factories established, intra-regional trade expanded and jobs created,” he said. 

For South Africa’s Chairship, the border therefore becomes one of the clearest places where the promise of SADC can be tested.

If regional corridors become faster, if border systems become more integrated, if digital tools reduce paperwork and waiting times, and if legitimate movement becomes easier while security improves, regional integration moves from a policy concept into something citizens and businesses can experience.

That is ultimately the direction President Ramaphosa set at the close of the Summit:

“Let us leave eThekwini with renewed determination to build a Southern Africa in which our borders connect rather than divide us; in which our resources are transformed into prosperity; and in which the benefits of regional integration are felt in the lives of all our people,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

0

President Cyril Ramaphosa has taken the helm of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as chairperson, placing accelerated infrastructure development, regional value chains and critical minerals transformation at the very core of South Africa’s chairship agenda.

Ramaphosa accepted the chairship of the regional bloc during the 46th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of SADC, held in Durban on Monday.

In a communique following the summit, the regional body underscored the deep interconnection of member states and the urgent need for regional collaboration and partnerships.

“Summit noted the evolving global geopolitical and economic landscape and urged Member States to leverage emerging opportunities to deepen regional integration, strengthen trade and investment, mobilise domestic resources, and strengthen collective resilience to advance sustainable development and the regional agenda,” the communique read.

Infrastructure development

On regional infrastructure, leaders were urged to expand economic corridors and modernise ports, railways, roads and One-Stop Border Posts.

These will serve as the backbone for accelerating and facilitating intra-SADC trade, particularly in agriculture, while building resilient regional supply networks and strengthening the bloc’s competitiveness.

“The Summit urged Member States to increase regional trade in agricultural products by removing non-tariff barriers, harmonising standards, and improving cross-border logistics to ensure efficient movement of food commodities from surplus to deficit areas, thereby stabilising supply and prices across the region.

“The Summit commended the Government of the Republic of South Africa for the successful organisation and hosting of the 9th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week and Exhibition… and welcomed its Declaration, urging Member States to strengthen regional industrial value chains to increase production, value addition, intra-SADC trade and industrial competitiveness,” the communique stated.

Furthermore, countries that have ratified the agreement on the operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund were commended.

“Those that have not yet ratified the Agreement [are urged] to facilitate its entry into force to expedite the process in order to enhance resource mobilisation and accelerate the implementation of regional infrastructure, industrialisation, and socio-economic development programmes and projects,” the communique continued.

This is expected to help ensure that regional economic projects move from planning to execution and implementation.

In a major step towards regional mobility and economic integration, SADC leaders approved the agreement establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA.

“The Summit approved the Agreement Establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA and called for its signature by Member States, recognising its importance in facilitating seamless travel across the region, enhancing tourism growth, promoting regional integration, and boosting economic development through increased visitor arrivals and investment,” it stated.

Furthermore, South Africa presented an update to the Summit on migration governance, calling for “coordinated and multidimensional dialogue at both regional level to address the underlying drivers of migration and develop comprehensive, sustainable, and effective responses”.

Peace, security and regional stability

Reflecting on the foundational requirements for economic growth, the summit reaffirmed that regional prosperity remains tied to peace and democratic governance.

“The Summit reiterated its solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo [DRC] and reaffirmed SADC’s support for coordinated regional and international efforts to restore peace and security, protect civilians, strengthen humanitarian and public health responses, promote inclusive dialogue, and enhance resilience to ongoing challenges.

“The Summit welcomed constructive engagement in the Republic of Madagascar through the efforts of the SADC Panel of Elders, supported by the SADC Mediation Reference Group and the SADC Secretariat and reaffirmed SADC’s commitment to supporting Madagascar’s reform process and development agenda, including the promotion of inclusive governance, democratic institutions, accountability, human rights, and citizen participation and return to constitutional normalcy,” the communique read.

SADC also commended Mozambique’s continued efforts in the ongoing inclusive national dialogue and its “continued efforts to combat terrorism and maintain peace and security in some districts of Cabo Delgado Province”.

In diplomatic developments, members congratulated Zimbabwe on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2027–2028 term.

They also expressed confidence that Zimbabwe will “advance multilateral cooperation, promote international peace and security, and effectively represent the interests of the SADC region, Africa, and the Global South within the UNSC”.

Meanwhile, His Majesty King Mswati III of the Kingdom of Eswatini will serve as the region’s Chairperson of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Health and social wellbeing

In response to pressing public health challenges, including the outbreak of Ebola in the DRC, member states were urged to strengthen regional disease surveillance and coordinated response mechanisms.

“The Summit urged Member States to strengthen disease surveillance and preparedness to prevent, detect and respond to outbreaks and pandemics, including through timely information sharing and coordinated regional action and called for continued support to the [DRC] in responding to the Ebola Outbreak.

“The Summit commended the Republics of Angola, South Africa and Zimbabwe as well as the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organisation, and other partners for providing financial and technical assistance in support of the response to the Ebola Outbreak.

“The Summit noted regional efforts to control and prevent the Foot and Mouth [FMD] outbreak and designated Botswana Vaccine Institute to be a regional FMD Antigen/Vaccine Bank to strengthen regional efforts for prevention and control of FMD outbreaks,” the communique stated.

Additionally, the Summit urged member states to accelerate the advancement of women into leadership roles and called for the protection of women against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide.

“The Summit commended Member States that have made significant progress in promoting women to leadership and decision-making positions and urged those that have not yet attained the targets set out in the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development, as well as other relevant continental and global instruments, to accelerate the advancement of women in leadership and decision-making positions, while also implementing targeted legislative frameworks and policies to prevent gender-based violence and protect human rights,” the communique continued.

South Africa was congratulated on hosting a successful 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government.

“[The Summit also] congratulated the country on the launch of a documentary showcasing the progress of regional integration and South Africa’s role in advancing the objectives of SADC since joining the Community in 1994.

“The Chairperson of SADC, His Excellency Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, expressed gratitude to all Heads of State and Government for attending the 46th Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government, and for the honour of electing him to lead the SADC region,” the communique concluded.

The Republic of Zambia will host SADC’s 47th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government. – SAnews.gov.za

0

The 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has advanced a range of legal instruments aimed at strengthening regional governance, financing development, facilitating tourism and movement, and tackling cross-border crime.

The instruments signed at the conclusion of the Summit in eThekwini on Monday, form part of a broader effort to turn SADC’s regional integration agenda into practical programmes that can improve economic cooperation and the lives of citizens across Southern Africa.

Among the instruments was an Agreement Amending Article 33 of the SADC Treaty, which seeks to strengthen the Community’s sanction regime by providing for the Summit to approve the suspension of a Member State that has been in arrears for four years or more.

The agreement was signed by the Kingdom of Eswatini, represented by King Mswati III; the Republic of Mozambique, represented by President Daniel Chapo; the Republic of Zimbabwe, represented by President Emmerson Mnangagwa; and the Kingdom of Lesotho, represented by Prime Minister Sam Matekane.

The amendment is significant for the functioning of SADC as it seeks to strengthen compliance with obligations arising from membership while providing the regional body with a clearer mechanism for dealing with prolonged arrears.

The Summit also advanced the Agreement on the Operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund (RDF), signed by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah of Namibia.

The RDF is intended to provide a regional financing mechanism for economic development and sustainable growth, addressing one of the longstanding challenges confronting regional integration: the ability to finance major programmes and projects.

The operationalisation of the Fund has been a recurring priority on the SADC agenda. In March this year, the SADC Council of Ministers identified its operationalisation among the key matters requiring progress, while the SADC 2026/27 Annual Corporate Plan lists it as a priority under efforts to establish sustainable financing for regional integration.

More recently, SADC and the African Development Bank reaffirmed their commitment to development financing, with the two institutions highlighting the importance of the RDF in financing regional programmes and projects. Discussions also emphasised infrastructure development, industrialisation, private-sector participation and innovative financing.

The Fund is therefore expected to become an important instrument as SADC moves from developing regional strategies to financing their implementation.

Tourism and easier movement

Zimbabwe also signed the Draft Agreement Establishing the SADC Tourism UNIVISA, which is intended to establish procedures and conditions for issuing a single regional tourism visa for transit or tourism stays across participating Member States.

The concept is aimed at making it easier for tourists to travel across multiple SADC destinations, supporting multi-destination tourism and increasing the economic benefits of tourism for the region.

The UNIVISA has been under discussion as part of SADC’s efforts to facilitate movement and strengthen regional tourism. Earlier this year, SADC reported that participating countries were being encouraged to accelerate visa harmonisation, finalise revenue-sharing arrangements and complete technical preparations for a pilot phase.

The instrument is particularly relevant to SADC’s wider objective of making borders facilitators of economic activity rather than obstacles to it.

This also complements the region’s work on tourism-friendly border posts. In July, SADC convened a workshop involving border officials from Angola, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe to address challenges experienced by tourists at border posts and improve customer service.

Strengthening the regional response to trafficking

President Duma Boko of Botswana signed the SADC Protocol Against Trafficking in Persons, providing a framework for cooperation among Member States to combat trafficking in persons and other cross-border crimes.

The Protocol recognises that trafficking networks operate across national boundaries and therefore require coordinated regional responses involving law enforcement, immigration and other authorities.

The instrument adds to SADC’s broader work to strengthen border management while facilitating legitimate movement.

Protecting people with albinism

Zimbabwe also reaffirmed its commitment through the SADC Declaration on the Protection of People with Albinism, originally adopted in 2019.

The Declaration calls on Member States to take measures to protect persons with albinism and strengthen their safety and rights.

Zimbabwe further signed the SADC Declaration on Accelerating Action to End AIDS as a Public Health Threat in the SADC Region by 2030, reaffirming the region’s commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat.

From agreements to implementation

The legal instruments adopted at the Summit come at a time when SADC is placing increasing emphasis on implementation.

In his closing statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa and Chairperson of SADC said the Summit had reviewed progress in implementing the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and advancing SADC Vision 2050, while making progress on trade, infrastructure, energy, industrialisation and regional value chains.

He cautioned, however, that the success of regional integration would ultimately be judged by its impact on ordinary people.

“But our citizens will ultimately judge us not by the number of resolutions we adopt, but by the difference those resolutions make in their daily lives,” he said. 

The President said the next phase of SADC’s development must therefore be defined by implementation, with progress measured in practical outcomes.

“We must measure our progress not only in meetings held and agreements signed, but in kilometres of railway rehabilitated, megawatts of electricity generated and transmitted, border-crossing times reduced, factories established, intra-regional trade expanded and jobs created,” President Ramaphosa said.

This implementation focus places the instruments signed at the Summit within a wider push to make SADC’s longstanding commitments more tangible.

The 46th Summit was held under a theme centred on accelerating industrialisation, reflecting the region’s intention to move beyond cooperation at policy level towards stronger productive capacity, regional value chains, infrastructure connectivity and economic growth.

The SADC Annual Corporate Plan for 2026/27 similarly identifies deeper regional market integration, increased intra-SADC trade, greater investment and sustainable financing of the regional integration agenda as key outcomes.

For South Africa, which has assumed the SADC Chairship, the challenge now is to help translate these agreements and commitments into implementation across the region.

As President Ramaphosa put it, the region has already developed strategies, established institutions and identified the infrastructure required.

“We must now accelerate implementation,” he said. 

The Summit’s legal instruments thus provide another building block for a SADC that is seeking to strengthen its institutions, finance its development ambitions, facilitate movement and trade, and ensure that regional integration produces measurable benefits for its people. – SAnews.gov.za

0

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, and the Executive Mayor of Mossel Bay Municipality, Alderman Dirk Kotzé, have signed a historic land-exchange pledge to advance the transfer of municipal land for the development of the proposed police station and dog unit in KwaNonqaba.

For almost 20 years, officers at the police station have worked from overcrowded and deteriorating premises, supplemented by temporary containers and Wendy houses.

“For close to 20 years, the people of KwaNonqaba have been promised a new police station while officers have continued working in conditions that are neither suitable nor dignified. Today, we have taken a decisive step towards changing that.

“Police officers cannot be expected to fight crime effectively from facilities that undermine their work. Public Works does not arrest criminals or investigate cases, but we have a responsibility to ensure that the South African Police Service (SAPS) has the land and infrastructure it needs to protect communities properly,” Macpherson said on Monday.

The Minister said the land exchange forms part of his commitment to using public property for the public good by ensuring that public assets actively contribute to the communities in which they are located, instead of standing idle or underused.

Mossel Bay Municipality approved the proposed property exchange in June 2026, following engagements between the Minister, the Mayor, and officials from the Department and the municipality. 

The pledge commits both parties to cooperate transparently and accountably in completing the legislative, regulatory and administrative processes required for the proposed exchange. 

Under the proposed exchange, municipal land in KwaNonqaba will be transferred to the National Department of Public Works and Infrastructure for the proposed new police station and SAPS Dog Unit.

In return, the department-owned land in Dana Bay will be transferred to Mossel Bay Municipality for the proposed Dana Bay Eco-Tourism Park.

“This is exactly what it means to use public property for the public good. The KwaNonqaba property will support better policing and a safer community, while the Dana Bay property will create space for recreation, tourism and local economic opportunities.

“Public land should not stand idle, deteriorate or become trapped in government processes while communities wait. It should make communities safer, unlock economic activity and improve people’s quality of life. This exchange will allow both properties to do exactly that,” the Mayor said.

Kotzé said the proposed exchange demonstrated what could be achieved when different spheres of government work together to meet the needs of communities.

“Through cooperation between the municipality and national government, we have found a practical solution that will benefit communities on both sides of this exchange. 

“This gives the long-awaited KwaNonqaba Police Station a home, while unlocking land in Dana Bay for a park that can serve residents, visitors and local businesses.

“This partnership demonstrates that we have listened to our residents and are working to address their needs and concerns. This is cooperative government producing a practical outcome for all communities in Mossel Bay,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za

0