The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is to hold a session of the Inter-State Politics Diplomacy Committee (ISPDC) on Monday.

International Relations and Cooperation Deputy Minister Sue van Der Merwe is expected to attend the meeting where politics, defence and security will top the agenda.

According to the spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Nomfanelo Kota, the meeting will discuss the political and security situation in the region; the consolidation of democracy in the region; the creation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) and disaster management.

"This session of the ISPDC will therefore feed into the various SADC efforts that seek to entrench the consolidation of democracy within the region," said Kota.

She added that South Africa would participate in the meeting within the context of the consolidation of the African Agenda as well as promoting peace and stability within the region," explains the department.

The ISPDC is a sub-structure of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

Its specific objectives of the committee are to safeguard the development of the region, promote political co-operation among states and evolve common political values and institutions, preventing and resolving inter and intra-state conflict by peaceful means among others.