Ramaphosa opens SADC summit with call for faster regional integration and industrialisation
South Africa’s president urged Southern African leaders to turn resources into industries and borders into bridges as the 46th Ordinary Summit began in eThekwini.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially opened the 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community in eThekwini, KZN.
He welcomed leaders as partners and fellow custodians of a shared Southern African destiny, noting that the city hosted the launch of the African Union 24 years ago and that the summit coincides with the 34th anniversary of the SADC Declaration and Treaty signed in Windhoek in 1992.
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Ramaphosa thanked outgoing chairperson President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe for his leadership and acknowledged the support of Zambia, the Troika, the SADC secretariat and all member states.
He highlighted the region’s progress, including the Free Trade Area, the Real-Time Gross Settlement System, the Southern African Power Pool and cooperation on health security.
He expressed condolences to the Democratic Republic of the Congo over the ongoing ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus, which has recorded nearly 5 000 confirmed cases and more than 2 300 deaths, and called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and safe access for health workers.
Despite growth of approximately 3.4% in 2025, intra-SADC trade remains only about one-fifth of total trade. Ramaphosa said the region continues to export raw materials that could be processed locally and import goods that could be manufactured at home.
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He called for accelerated implementation of the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020–2030 through deeper industrialisation and regional value chains, bold investment in infrastructure, stronger energy, water and digital security, climate-resilient food systems, and full use of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Peace, security and democratic stability remain essential, he said. Regional integration multiplies collective capacity without diminishing sovereignty.
Ramaphosa declared the summit open and urged leaders to turn decisions into factories, power lines, jobs and shared prosperity so that no country and no person is left behind.
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