Ramaphosa opens SADC Summit with call to ‘turn borders into bridges’ [VIDEO]

President Cyril Ramaphosa kicked off the 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Durban, South Africa on Monday, emphasizing the need to "turn borders into bridges" and solidify regional unity for shared prosperity. He welcomed regional leaders to eThekwini, vowing to accelerate economic integration and deliver the "dividend of economic liberation" by providing decent jobs, growing industries, reliable electricity, affordable food, quality healthcare, education, and opportunities for the youth.

Ramaphosa recalled SADC's history as a beacon of resilience and solidarity, forged to overcome colonialism and apartheid. Now, its mission is to translate political liberation into economic and social benefits for the people. He praised regional initiatives such as the SADC Free Trade Area, the Real-Time Gross Settlement System, and the Southern African Power Pool, while also underscoring the importance of cross-border infrastructure development.

The President highlighted five key priorities for the next decade: industrialisation and value chains, infrastructure investment, energy, water, and digital security, climate-resilient food systems, and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area. He stressed that regional integration should be apparent in people's daily lives, with communiqués transforming into construction sites, businesses, and job opportunities.

Ramaphosa warned that development hinges on stability, urging leaders to resolve differences through dialogue and uphold democratic principles to ensure peace and security. He concluded by invoking Durban's significance as the birthplace of the African Union, urging the region to renew its commitment to building a truly integrated regional economy with visible benefits for its people.