President Thabo Mbeki to assume Chairpersonship of SADC Saturday 16 August, Sandton Convention Centre

Sandton- South African President Thabo Mbeki will tomorrow, Saturday 16 August on behalf of the government and people of South Africa assume the Chairpersonship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. In this regard, South Africa will take over from the current Chairperson –Zambia.

South Africa views this as a great privilege and an honour to lead our regional organisation, SADC in this capacity and commits itself to continue to ensure the restoration and strengthening of SADC political unity and cohesion while intensifying regional infrastructure development and deepening regional economic integration.

The SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government  was preceded by  the SADC Council of Ministers, the SADC Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration as well as the SADC Senior Officials meeting whose meetings took place from Monday-Friday 11-15 August 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre.

The SADC Summit will among consider:

• Elections of  Chair and Deputy Chair of the Summit
• Elections of the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation
• Status of Member States Contribution
• Report of the Outgoing Chairperson
• Report of the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation
• Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Regional Economic Integration
• AU Summit and Nepad
• Review of the Regional situation focusing on Economic and social situation; agriculture and food security; gender;  HIV and Aids

The SADC Heads of State and Government is expected to conclude its deliberations on Sunday 17 August 2008 following a retreat of the Heads of State and Government on the margins of the Summit.

Issued by Ronnie Mamoepa at 082-990-4853

Department of Foreign Affairs
P/Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

15 August 2008.