Southern African leaders gathered in Durban on Monday for the 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community, with President Cyril Ramaphosa formally assuming the chairmanship of the 16-member regional bloc.
The summit, held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, is themed “Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.” The theme places critical minerals and regional beneficiation at the heart of SADC’s development agenda, reflecting growing calls for African nations to move beyond exporting raw materials.
Critical Minerals and Industrialisation
Ramaphosa has argued that Southern Africa must build regional value chains around its vast mineral reserves rather than leaving them as commodities for export. The summit will deliberate on operationalising the SADC Regional Development Fund, intended to finance infrastructure projects across the bloc. Leaders are also expected to review progress on SADC Vision 2050 and the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan covering 2020 to 2030.
Migration, Security and Political Stability
Migration emerged as a key point of contention ahead of the summit. Ramaphosa called for addressing the root causes driving people to leave their countries rather than relying solely on enforcement. “Migration pressures cannot be addressed through enforcement measures alone. They require peace where there is conflict, economic growth where there is stagnation, and opportunity where there is poverty,” he said.
Security around the venue was tightened after three people were arrested on Sunday in an alleged attempt to gain unauthorised access to the summit grounds. The SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation met on Sunday ahead of the main summit to discuss regional stability.
South Africa Assumes Leadership
Ramaphosa has served as interim SADC chair since November 2025, when an extraordinary summit accepted Madagascar’s withdrawal after President Andry Rajoelina was ousted in a military-backed transition. Monday’s summit marks his formal assumption of the one-year chairmanship.
The summit also takes place against a backdrop of rising anti-immigrant sentiment in South Africa, with Ramaphosa expressing shame over recent attacks on foreign nationals. “As South Africans, we are deeply concerned and ashamed that nationals from other countries have in recent months been subjected to discrimination and ill-treatment,” he said.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi described the Organ Troika as a “cornerstone for development and prosperity,” while International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola called for the bloc to accelerate efforts on youth unemployment and hunger. Food security, disaster preparedness and humanitarian response also feature on the agenda.
Sources: SAnews; The Witness; IOL; SADC Secretariat
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