Ramaphosa to address SADC Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to deliver a speech at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit, which convenes on Monday at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC). The summit will bring together leaders to address various challenges facing the region, among which migration is a significant concern.

South Africa and other member states have advocated for migration to be a key topic on the agenda. Ramaphosa, who assumes the chairmanship of the bloc until August next year, has urged the region to tackle the factors driving people to leave their countries. The African Union (AU) Commission chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, is also expected to speak at the gathering.

The issue of migration is of particular concern to Lesotho, with its Foreign Affairs Minister, Limpho Tau, emphasizing that if South Africa experiences a significant influx of people, neighboring countries will also be impacted. Tau expressed optimism about the summit providing a platform for South Africa to articulate its perspective on migration, highlighting that the country has taken the initiative to place the matter on the agenda.

She affirmed the importance of discussing the issue collectively, as she believes it is a shared responsibility for the region.

Security measures are anticipated to be heightened in Durban due to the planned protests by anti-undocumented immigration groups, such as March and March and Operation Dudula. These organizations intend to demonstrate their discontent over the presence of undocumented foreign nationals during the summit. KwaZulu-Natal Police Spokesperson Robert Netshiunda stated that the protestors will be confined to the Speaker's Corner near South Beach to prevent any disruption to the security of the heads of state and dignitaries attending the summit.

The police will facilitate the marchers' journey from the starting point to the designated area, ensuring their demonstration remains peaceful and orderly.