The Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of South Africa, Honourable Ms Baleka Mbete;
Esteemed Members of the Regional Executive of the SADC Parliamentary Forum;
Honourable Members of Parliament;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished Guests;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Good evening to all of you;
It is indeed an honour for me to address this important gathering that is the 37th Plenary of the South African Development Cooperation Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF).
I am honoured to welcome you to South Africa during this month of July, in which we celebrate the memory of former President Nelson Mandela, the founding father of our democratic Republic.
In order to build on his legacy we have to strengthen our efforts in enhancing the SADC Common Agenda and build a better life for the peoples of our region.
Honourable members;
I wish to express my gratitude for your presentation on the Transformation of the South African Development Cooperation Parliamentary Forum into a SADC Regional Parliament.
Indeed, such a transformation is vital in ensuring that we move closer towards the aspirations of Agenda 2063 of regional integration as well as strengthening SADC’s ability to domesticate and implement its regional roadmap as a Regional Economic Community.
We are aware that SADC remains the only region which has not established a Parliament and the impact that this has on the Pan African Parliament (PAP) given that the Protocol establishing the Pan African Parliament (PAP) provides for the PAP to be anchored by the five regional Parliaments.
The core of South Africa’s foreign policy today remains the strengthening of political and economic integration of SADC.
One of the areas where concrete support could be provided by the SADC Regional Parliament is through advocacy and to encourage adherence to the objectives of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
Within SADC there have been relatively low levels of ratification of SADC Protocols, delaying implementation and advancement of the regional integration agenda.
To this end, the transformation of the SADC PF into a Regional Parliament will support in addressing these gaps.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In my capacity as Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, South Africa has, for the past year, led the region’s collective efforts in addressing peace, stability and security in SADC.
As South Africa we remain committed towards the creation of a stable region within which our economic development imperatives can be realised.
We have in our capacity as the Chair of the Organ continued to remain engaged on the political and security situations in the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Madagascar.
On Lesotho, there have been numerous extra-ordinary Ministerial and Summit meetings to consider the situation and provide guidance on the region’s support to resolve it in a peaceful and lasting manner.
To this end, the Summit mandated the SADC Observer Mission to Lesotho in addition to a SADC Facilitator in the person of the South African Deputy President, Cyril Ramaphosa.
We continue as the SADC Organ to remain seized with the situation at the highest level.
With regards to the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, SADC engaged with the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region and other role players towards the full implementation of the Peace, Security Cooperation Framework for the DRC and the region.
SADC furthermore supported the voluntary disarmament initiative of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR).
The situation in Madagascar remains on the agenda of SADC and consideration is being given to ways in which SADC can support the reconciliation and nation-building initiatives in that country.
In SADC we have made significant progress in integrating our markets.
But integration of the real economy can still be considerably advanced and indeed taken to a new level, by integrating our economies at production level.
This would constitute deeper regional integration that goes into behind-the-border issues, including production sharing and cross-border value chains.
Furthermore, the recent COMESA-EAC-SADC Summit in Sharm-el- Sheikh paved the way for the African Union’s Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) negotiations and aspirations towards boosting intra-Africa trade and development.
This culminated in some Heads of State and Government / Delegations signing the agreement and Declaration signalling the commencement of Phase II of the negotiations.
The launch of the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement is a prelude to launching negotiations on the Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) anticipated to be concluded by 2017.
The recently held African Union (AU) Summit (14 - 15 June 2015) urged all Regional Economic Communities and Member States to participate effectively in the CFTA negotiations.
The objective of the negotiations for the establishment of the CFTA aims to integrate Africa’s markets in line with the objectives and principles as enunciated in the Abuja Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community.
South Africa encourages the work of the SADC Parliamentary Forum in ensuring policy harmonisation and alignment between Member States in the region.
We recognise that the role of the SADC Parliamentary Forum in contributing towards the attainment of regional objectives is relevant.
Notwithstanding this, the relationship between the SADC Structures and the SADC Parliamentary Forum needs to be reviewed.
We need to create greater collaboration between the SADC Secretariat, SADC Parliamentary Forum and Member States in a number of fora.
Participation in SADC election observation missions (SEOMs) is a key area where the work of the SADC Parliamentary Forum can contribute towards good governance and the consolidation of democracy.
In this regard, there is a need to streamline the positive contribution that the SADC Parliamentary Forum has made towards this end and to closely align the work of the SADC Parliamentary Forum to the mandate of the SEOM.
Also, the Council of Ministers meetings can provide a good platform for the sharing of ideas and information.
Engagement with the SADC Secretariat on policy harmonisation should remain a critical focus for the SADC Parliamentary Forum.
South Africa appreciates the initiative taken by the SADC Secretariat and the SADC Parliamentary Forum to elevate this issue which will be discussed at the forthcoming SADC Ministers of Justice and Attorney’s-General Meeting in Harare.
I wish you and your team well in your endeavours, and enjoy your stay in the beautiful city of Ethekwini.
I thank you!