President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to lead the South African delegation to the Summit of the heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Windhoek, Namibia.

The 38th Ordinary Summit, to be held Thursday and Friday, will take place under the theme “Promoting Infrastructure Development and Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development”, and will be preceded by a meeting of the SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security on Thursday.

In his role as outgoing Chair of SADC, Ramaphosa will deliver a report to the Summit outlining the work of the regional body for the duration of South Africa’s tenure as Chair from August 2017 to August 2018. As Chair, South Africa was guided by its tenure theme, “Partnering with the Private Sector in Developing Industry and Regional Value Chains”.

Among other issues, the Summit will discuss the socio-economic situation in the region, while Angola will, as Chair of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, report on the state of peace and security in the region. Particular attention will be paid to recent and forthcoming elections in the region, including in Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Eswatini and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In line with customary practice in SADC, a recorded 2018 SADC Day message by President Ramaphosa, in his capacity as Chair, will be broadcast on national radio and television services throughout the region on Thursday.

According to the presidency, Ramaphosa will participate in the prize-giving ceremony for the annual SADC Media Awards and SADC Secondary School Essay Competition.

South Africa will remain a member of the SADC Troika as Outgoing Chair until August 2019.

Ramaphosa is to be accompanied by International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, Minister of Energy, Jeff Radebe and Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies, among others.