Lamola said SA is marking 30 years of the Constitution and 70 years since the 1956 Women’s March at a time when the country is preparing to host major regional and global engagements.
Briefing the media on Wednesday on international developments relating to SA’s foreign policy priorities and programmes, Lamola said the Constitution continues to guide the country’s approach to the African continent and the international community. “Our Constitution stands as both a symbol of SA’s triumph over division and a testament to our unwavering commitment to human rights, constitutionalism, multilateralism and international solidarity,” Lamola said.
SA is hosting the 46th Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government in Durban in the country’s KwaZulu-Natal province, from August 3-17.
The summit is being held under the theme: “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.”
Lamola said the summit will culminate in President Cyril Ramaphosa formally assuming the SADC Chairpersonship for the 2026/27 period.
The summit process includes meetings of senior officials, the Finance Committee, the Council of Ministers and the Organ Troika before Heads of State and Government meet on August 17.
Lamola said the summit is expected to focus on regional industrialisation, infrastructure, agricultural productivity, food security, critical minerals beneficiation, regional financing, peace and security, and better implementation of SADC decisions.
The summit will also provide SA with an opportunity to explain the country’s migration management approach.
Lamola said government is implementing measures to strengthen border security, combat irregular migration, enforce immigration and labour laws, address the unlawful employment of undocumented migrants and tackle corruption within migration systems.
On the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, Lamola said SA remains committed to international law, the UN Charter and more inclusive multilateralism. “We believe that the answer to the current crisis of multilateralism is not less multilateralism, but better and more inclusive multilateralism,” Lamola said.
Lamola said SA supports a continent-wide African Union (AU) conference on migration, arguing that migration must be discussed in relation to peace, development, governance, regional integration and anti-migrant sentiment.
Lamola said almost six in 10 Africans aged between 18 and 25 have considered emigrating, mainly in search of better opportunities.
On peace and security, Lamola welcomed the planned Extraordinary AU Summit on conflict prevention and resolution in Luanda, Angola, from August 29 to August 30.
Lamola said the conflict in Sudan represents “one of the biggest moral failures in our lifetime” and requires structured continental intervention.
SA will also participate in the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, under the theme: “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Security.”
Lamola said SA will use the summit to advance economic diplomacy, trade, supply chains, agriculture, women-led development, the digital economy and reform of global institutions.
Lamola also confirmed that High Commissioner to India Anil Sooklal has been recalled to headquarters for consultations.
Lamola said the government has recommended a new framework for protocol and diplomatic support to former Presidents and former Deputy Presidents during international travel, including mandatory disclosure of travel purpose, funding sources, hosts and planned engagements.
–ChannelAfrica–
