The 46th Ordinary SADC Summit opened in Durban, South Africa, on 17 August, with President Cyril Ramaphosa succeeding Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa as chairperson. Leaders addressed regional integration and critical minerals, while anti-immigration protesters outside the venue demanded mass deportations ahead of a newly announced September deadline.
Durban Summit Focuses on Industrialization and Regional Value Chains
The 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government officially commenced on 17 August at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa, as reported by the 46th Ordinary Summit opening in Durban. The high-level gathering convened under the central theme of Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialization through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World
.
During his opening remarks, SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi outlined the regional bloc’s ongoing efforts to expand trade, boost security, and strengthen infrastructure connectivity across member states. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who succeeded Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the SADC chairperson, used his address to emphasize that member states cannot realize their economic potential by acting in isolation. Ramaphosa pointed out that the region recorded economic growth of about 3.4 percent in 2025, with intra-SADC trade accounting for roughly one-fifth of total trade.
To unlock broader prosperity across an integrated market serving more than 1.4 billion people on the African continent, Ramaphosa urged leaders to dismantle administrative obstacles. This requires us to remove non-tariff barriers, improve border management, harmonize standards and make it easier for goods, services, capital and skills to move across our region,
Ramaphosa stated during the proceedings.
Protests and Anti-Immigration Deadlines Overshadow Proceedings
While regional leaders debated economic corridors and industrial transformation inside the Durban convention center, anti-immigration demonstrations unfolded outside the venue. The group announced a fresh deadline of 30 September for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country, labeling the upcoming date as a major mobilization.
The demonstrations follow earlier nationwide protests on 30 June, an operation that cost the government approximately R600 million ($35m) in security expenditures. While authorities report that law enforcement agencies have deported over 100,000 undocumented foreigners and tightened borders since enforcing stricter rules, activist groups maintain that state measures remain insufficient.
Tensions surrounding immigration have strained diplomatic relations across the region. Several African nations—including Ghana, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zambia, Kenya, and Ethiopia—repatriated hundreds and thousands of their citizens following xenophobic attacks and threats of violence earlier in the year. In response to the unrest, President Ramaphosa publicly expressed regret ahead of the summit.
“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.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa, via African Energy Chamber
We no fit preach integration for summit like dis and practice exclusion for di streets of our kontris,
Ramaphosa added, acknowledging that the nation’s communities have long been shaped by migration and diversity.
Energy Security and Cross-Border Power Integration
The summit’s agenda also addressed critical infrastructure links, particularly energy security, which industry bodies say relies entirely on cross-border cooperation. According to the African Energy Chamber’s coverage of President Ramaphosa’s call for integration, South Africa currently imports approximately 7,570 GWh of electricity through the Southern African Power Pool to maintain grid stability. A substantial portion of these power imports originates in Mozambique, where expanding hydropower initiatives such as the Mphanda Nkuwa Hydropower Project are slated to boost regional generation.
At the same time, South Africa is pursuing aggressive renewable energy targets, aiming for clean power sources to account for 40% of its national energy mix by 2030. Regional fuel trade remains equally vital: as of April 2026, South Africa imported approximately R7.1 billion worth of petroleum products from Nigeria alone, underscoring the deep economic interdependence that links SADC member states.
