South Africa Takes Over SADC Senior Officials Chairmanship

Seokolo extended South Africa's condolences to the Democratic Republic of Congo following the recent Ebola outbreak, expressing solidarity with communities affected by the disease.

South Africa has officially assumed the Chairpersonship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standing Committee of Senior Officials, with the country promising to strengthen regional cooperation and improve the implementation of programmes that support economic growth, peace and development across Southern Africa.

The announcement was made during the opening of the SADC Senior Officials Meeting in Durban, where Ambassador Tebogo Seokolo accepted the chairmanship on behalf of South Africa for the period from August 2026 to August 2027. The meeting forms part of a series of high-level engagements leading up to the SADC Council of Ministers on 12 August and the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government on 16 and 17 August.

South Africa Commits to Regional Cooperation

Seokolo described the appointment as both an honour and a responsibility, saying South Africa is committed to advancing the goals of the regional bloc while working closely with all member states. He noted that the country had already served as Interim Chair after unforeseen circumstances affected Madagascar, and the formal handover reflects the strength and resilience of SADC's institutions.

He also thanked Zimbabwe for supporting the organisation during the transition by hosting statutory meetings and acknowledged Zambia's contribution through the Summit Troika. According to Seokolo, continued cooperation among member states remains essential to keeping regional programmes on track.

Focus on Security and Economic Growth

Addressing delegates, Seokolo said the Standing Committee plays an important role in ensuring that recommendations submitted to the Council of Ministers are practical and capable of being implemented effectively.

He identified several priorities for the coming year, including financial sustainability, regional peace and security, industrialisation, infrastructure development, food and nutrition security, energy security, climate resilience and public health. He also expressed concern over the continuing conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, describing peace and stability as critical to protecting livelihoods and supporting economic development across the region.

Seokolo extended South Africa's condolences to the Democratic Republic of Congo following the recent Ebola outbreak, expressing solidarity with communities affected by the disease.

Stronger Implementation a Key Priority

Economic transformation will remain a central focus during South Africa's tenure, with industrialisation identified as a key driver of employment, regional trade and shared prosperity. Seokolo said SADC's vision of producing more within the region and expanding trade among member states remains an important objective.

He added that South Africa will focus on improving coordination between member countries and ensuring that decisions adopted by SADC institutions deliver measurable results. During the Durban meeting, senior officials are expected to review progress on previous summit decisions, institutional reforms, monitoring systems, resource mobilisation and sustainable financing as part of efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of the regional organisation.