Lamola urges SADC to back first woman UN secretary-general

Minister Ronald Lamola has urged Southern African Development Community (SADC) nations to back a woman for the role of United Nations secretary-general. The UN is currently in the process of choosing a new leader to replace António Guterres, whose second term ends on December 31, 2026. The new secretary-general will take office on January 1, 2027.

Rebeca Grynspan, a former Costa Rican Vice President and head of UNCTAD, has emerged as a frontrunner following an initial July Security Council poll, along with other notable figures such as former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and other regional and global candidates. "We have always been guided by our own convictions and beliefs in gender equality.

This should be the moment for the UN to choose its first female secretary-general, and we should lead the way as a region," Lamola stated. Lamola made these remarks following South Africa's assumption of the SADC Chairpersonship from Zimbabwe in Durban on August 12, 2026. He emphasized that the responsibility belongs to the entire community, guided by solidarity, unity, sovereign equality, and shared prosperity.

Paying tribute to Zimbabwe's contributions, Lamola welcomed Zambia as the incoming Chair and reminded delegates of the interconnected histories within Southern Africa. He urged ministers to draw strength from shared struggles. Lamola outlined four priorities for South Africa's leadership: peace and security, industrialization and trade, infrastructure development, and human capital migration and human rights.

He cautioned against vigilantism in migration debates, stressing that addressing irregular migration must occur within an orderly and lawful framework. He called on member states to sign the protocol on the free movement of people to enable regular and lawful migration. Finally, Lamola wished Zambia peaceful elections on August 13, highlighting democracy as the cornerstone of development.