Category: SA Leads

South Africa will step onto the world’s biggest diplomatic stage next month with a clear and confident message: the answer to today’s global challenges is more cooperation, not less, and Africa deserves a permanent seat at the table.

Speaking during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said South Africa will use the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to advocate for a stronger, more inclusive multilateral system, while continuing to push for reforms that ensure Africa is permanently represented on the United Nations Security Council.

“We believe that the answer to the current crisis of multilateralism is not less multilateralism, but better and more inclusive multilateralism,” Lamola said.

Principle and consistency

Lamola said South Africa remains firmly committed to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, including international humanitarian law, whose consistent application he described as essential to protecting civilians, preventing conflict, preserving the sovereignty of states and maintaining international peace and security.

“The credibility of the international system depends on the equal application of its rules, regardless of the power or influence of the states involved,” the Minister said, adding that South Africa would continue working closely with the international community to uphold these principles.

Working with partners old and new

According to the UN’s provisional schedule, the 81st Session opens on 8 September 2026, with the general debate scheduled for 22 to 26 September and 28 September. South Africa will work closely with Bangladesh, which assumes the Presidency of the 81st Session.

Lamola welcomed this year’s theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All”, saying it reflects the need for a multilateral system that is more effective, responsive and capable of addressing global challenges.

The Minister also commended Germany for its stewardship of the 80th Session, noting that South Africa demonstrated its commitment by seconding an official from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation to the Office of the President of the General Assembly, specifically to support the advancement of the African agenda.

Punching above its weight

South Africa’s activist diplomacy has long given the country a profile larger than its size, from championing the interests of the Global South to hosting the G20 and now preparing to chair SADC. At UNGA81, that tradition continues, with Pretoria positioning itself as a consistent, principled voice for a fairer world order and for a continent of 1.4 billion people seeking its rightful place in global decision-making.

When the general debate opens in New York in September, Africa’s case will be made, and South Africa will be among those making it loudest.

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South Africa is preparing to welcome the region’s leaders to Durban for the 46th Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit of Heads of State and Government on 17 August, a landmark gathering at which President Cyril Ramaphosa will formally assume the SADC Chairpersonship for the 2026/27 term.

The summit places South Africa at the helm of the 16-member regional bloc, with leaders expected to adopt decisions aimed at accelerating industrialisation, strengthening infrastructure development, enhancing food security and advancing regional integration.

Briefing the media in Pretoria on Wednesday, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola said South Africa was honoured to host the summit under the theme “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World”.

Two weeks of careful preparation

The summit process is already underway, with technical meetings having begun at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban. The Standing Committee of Senior Officials meets from 6 to 7 August, followed by the Finance Committee on 8 August, where member states will consider the SADC budget and resource mobilisation.

Between 9 and 11 August officials will finalise documentation before the SADC Council of Ministers convenes from 12 to 14 August under Minister Lamola’s chairpersonship, deliberating on industrialisation, infrastructure, regional trade, food security, health, regional financing and institutional reforms.

A highlight of the programme will be President Ramaphosa’s SADC Public Lecture on 14 August at the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Westville Campus, which is expected to stimulate dialogue on implementing SADC Vision 2050 and strengthening regional integration. Heads of State and Government arrive on 16 August ahead of the official opening and a State Banquet hosted by the President.

Decisions that deliver

Lamola said preparations are centred on making SADC decisions more effective, measurable and capable of implementation. Heads of State and Government are expected to consider 47 decisions submitted through the summit process. Among the expected outcomes are:

• Accelerating regional industrialisation and regional value chains;
• Strengthening infrastructure connectivity and transport corridors;
• Enhancing agricultural productivity and food security;
• Advancing beneficiation of the region’s critical minerals.

Member states will also consider a proposed framework for SADC Presidential Champions, under which Heads of State would personally champion priority regional programmes spanning infrastructure, industrialisation, agriculture, mining, resource mobilisation and social development.

South Africa’s year at the wheel

The chairpersonship gives South Africa a leading role in driving the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020–2030, SADC’s primary development blueprint, at a time when the region is looking to translate ambition into delivery.

For Durban, the summit is another turn in the international spotlight, and for South Africa, it is an opportunity to show the warmth, capability and leadership the country brings to the region it calls home.

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South Africa’s universities are standing tall on the world stage. The University of the Witwatersrand has been named Africa’s leading university in the 2026 Centre for World University Rankings, while the University of Cape Town continues to earn global recognition as one of the continent’s highest-performing institutions — twin achievements that confirm the country’s higher education system as a strategic national asset.

Writing for SAnews, William Baloyi describes the growing international standing of South Africa’s universities as a story worth celebrating — one that reflects the country’s intellectual capital, capacity for innovation and ability to compete globally.

Wits leads the continent

Wits’s top ranking in the 2026 Centre for World University Rankings reflects the university’s excellence in research, educational quality, faculty performance and graduate employability. It reinforces the role South African universities play in advancing knowledge, innovation and development across the continent and beyond.

UCT’s recognition is equally impressive. In major international rankings — including the 2026/27 US News and World Report Best Global Universities rankings and the QS World University Rankings 2027 — UCT is recognised as one of Africa’s highest-performing universities, on the strength of its research reputation, academic excellence, international collaboration and graduate outcomes.

Research that changes lives

The impact of South African universities is best seen in the research they produce. Wits public health leader and vaccinologist Professor Shabir A. Madhi has been recognised with one of the world’s leading infectious disease honours — testament to the calibre of scholarship the country’s institutions nurture.

Beyond the accolades, South Africa’s universities are advancing practical solutions to the country’s most pressing development priorities, from energy security and public health to food security, climate resilience and the future of work.

Mandela’s vision, alive on campus

The achievements carry an echo of history. Baloyi notes that the vision of a society where education, knowledge and opportunity drive transformation was central to the legacy of Nelson Mandela, who saw education as one of the most powerful tools for empowering people and building a more equal society.

Today, that vision lives in lecture halls and laboratories from Johannesburg to Cape Town. As South Africa works to accelerate inclusive growth, the strong performance of its universities is a reminder that investing in knowledge is an investment in the nation’s future — and on that score, South Africa is leading from the front.

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South Africa’s clean energy transition has shifted from promise to momentum. Renewable energy’s share of locally generated electricity has climbed from just 2% in 2016 to 9% in 2024, President Cyril Ramaphosa says — and the pipeline of projects now under way suggests the pace is only picking up.

Writing in his weekly newsletter, reported by SAnews, the President said the Just Energy Transition is gathering pace, with growing investment in renewables creating new opportunities while the country works to secure reliable and affordable electricity.

The numbers tell the story

Citing Statistics South Africa, President Ramaphosa noted that renewable energy accounted for 2% of locally generated electricity in 2016, rising to 6% in 2021 and 9% in 2024. The country now has close to 16GW of installed renewable energy capacity, while a further 32GW of projects are in the grid connection process and are expected to connect by 2030 — a threefold expansion in the making.

Households are part of the surge. The number of homes with solar panels increased by 86% over three years, reaching 675 000 households in 2025, driven in part by the rooftop solar boom and supported by reforms such as the removal of the licensing threshold for self-generation.

Home-grown investment leads the way

The President pointed to the newly opened first phase of the Ummbila Emoyeni wind farm on the Mpumalanga Highveld as a symbol of the changing energy landscape. Developed by Seriti Green, a subsidiary of South African mining company Seriti Resources, the project’s first phase comprises 25 turbines with a combined capacity of 155MW, and forms part of a planned 900MW hybrid cluster combining wind, solar and battery storage — expected to be the largest hybrid energy facility in South Africa once complete.

What makes it significant, the President said, is that clean energy investment is no longer driven solely by international players: South African companies are investing in the country’s own energy future.

New energy on old coalfields

There is powerful symbolism in where this is happening. “Since the late 1800s, the coalfields of Mpumalanga have helped industrialise our country,” President Ramaphosa said, paying tribute to the coal miners, artisans and power station workers who built South Africa’s industrial base.

Now, the energy systems of the future are rising on that same Highveld — drawing on the region’s existing strengths, skills and infrastructure while adding wind, solar and storage to the mix. For a country determined to grow while greening its grid, it is a transition with opportunity at its heart.

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South African rugby is about to host something no fan under 35 has ever seen at home: a full, old-fashioned All Blacks tour. Promoted as Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry, the 2026 New Zealand tour of South Africa runs through August and September — the first traditional New Zealand tour of the Republic in 30 years.

Confirmed on 16 October 2025 by the South African Rugby Union and New Zealand Rugby, the tour revives one of sport’s grandest traditions: the touring side criss-crossing the country to face provincial teams between Test matches, filling stadiums and towns along the way.

Eight Matches, Five Great Stadiums

The All Blacks will play eight matches in the tour window — four against South Africa’s United Rugby Championship franchises and four Tests against the Springboks. The August leg alone is a feast for home fans:

• Friday 7 August — Stormers vs All Blacks, Cape Town Stadium
• Tuesday 11 August — Sharks vs All Blacks, Kings Park, Durban
• Saturday 15 August — Bulls vs All Blacks, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Saturday 22 August — Springboks vs All Blacks, first Test, Ellis Park, Johannesburg
• Tuesday 25 August — Lions vs All Blacks, Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Venues across the tour include Ellis Park, FNB Stadium, Cape Town Stadium, Kings Park and Loftus Versfeld — a showcase of South Africa’s world-class rugby grounds.

History for the Freedom Cup — and for the Women’s Game

For the first time in the rivalry’s history, the Freedom Cup will be contested over four Tests, with the fourth to be staged at a neutral venue. And in another first, the tour will feature a South Africa women vs New Zealand women match at FNB Stadium on 5 September, ahead of the third Test — a landmark stage for the women’s game in front of a home crowd.

The occasion is so significant that SANZAAR restructured the Rugby Championship itself, moving the annual Southern Hemisphere competition to a biennial format to make room for the revival of traditional tours.

The Squads Are In

Both camps have named enlarged touring parties for the marathon ahead. New Zealand announced a 44-player squad on 27 July, while South Africa named a 43-player group on 22 July covering the Test against Argentina and the four-match series against the All Blacks.

From the first whistle in Cape Town on 7 August to the final Test, South Africa becomes the centre of the rugby world for six weeks — hosting the fixture every rugby nation envies, in the stadiums that made the rivalry legendary. The wait of a generation is over.

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South Africa’s partnership with its western neighbour has taken a confident step forward, with Cabinet welcoming the successful conclusion of the fourth South Africa–Namibia Bi-National Commission, held in Pretoria on 17 July 2026.

The commission was co-chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Namibian President Dr Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, and reaffirmed the strategic nature of relations between the two countries, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said in Pretoria on Thursday, according to SAnews.

Natural resources at the heart of shared growth

“Of particular significance is the commitment of closer collaboration in the exploration and utilisation of natural resources, which will support economic development and growth in both countries,” Ntshavheni said.

In a joint communiqué issued after the meeting, the two Presidents reaffirmed the historic bonds of friendship forged during the struggle against colonialism and apartheid, and expressed satisfaction with the steady growth of cooperation between the two nations.

“They reiterated their commitment to further strengthening political, economic, social and cultural relations for the mutual benefit of their peoples.”

Trade, value chains and joint industry

Recognising their geographical proximity, economic interdependence and complementary resource endowments, the two leaders agreed to intensify economic cooperation in practical ways. The joint communiqué records agreement to:

• Promote greater trade and investment between the two economies;
• Strengthen cross-border value chains;
• Facilitate private-sector partnerships; and
• Pursue opportunities for joint industrial development and beneficiation.

For businesses on both sides of the Orange River, that agenda points to more opportunities in mining, manufacturing, logistics and agriculture, with beneficiation – adding value to raw materials before export – singled out as a shared priority.

A stronger region, with South Africa hosting

The two Presidents also committed to deeper cooperation within the Southern African Development Community and the African Union, advancing regional peace, economic integration and sustainable development.

In a vote of confidence in South Africa’s regional leadership, Namibia expressed its support for South Africa as host of the 46th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in August 2026, where South Africa takes the chair of the regional bloc.

Four commissions in, the South Africa–Namibia relationship is showing what good neighbourliness looks like when it is backed by concrete plans: two countries, one border, and a growing list of shared wins.

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From the world’s first heart transplant to the world’s largest radio telescope, South Africa has a habit of punching far above its weight in science — and the evidence keeps stacking up. In a feature published by SAnews this week, government communicator William Baloyi set out the case for South Africa as a continental leader in science, innovation and technology.

Inventions that save lives

Consider the Lodox scanner. First developed in the mining industry to detect smuggled diamonds through low-dose, full-body X-ray imaging, the technology is today used in trauma centres and hospitals in South Africa and around the world — producing full-body images within seconds while exposing patients to significantly less radiation than traditional X-rays or CT scans. A tool built for one industry was transformed into one that saves lives in another.

South Africa’s medical pedigree runs deep. The first successful human-to-human heart transplant was performed by South African cardiac surgeon Professor Christiaan Barnard at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town in 1967, and South African researchers continue to shape global health today through advances in infectious disease research, HIV prevention and treatment, and vaccine development.

Eyes on the universe from the Karoo

The country’s leadership is written across the night sky too. The Square Kilometre Array (SKA), hosted in the Northern Cape and co-located with Australia, is an international effort to build the world’s largest radio telescope, with a collecting area equivalent to roughly one square kilometre. It is expected to deepen humanity’s understanding of galaxies, black holes and the origins of the universe itself.

Its precursor, the MeerKAT radio telescope in the Karoo, is already a world-class discovery machine — producing detailed observations of the centre of the Milky Way and cementing South Africa’s place as a key contributor to global astronomy.

A research powerhouse, by the numbers

The output backs up the reputation. In 2023, South Africa produced 25 775 scientific articles, placing the country 29th in the world and second in Africa, behind only Egypt.

Behind those numbers are thousands of scientists, engineers, students and science communicators — proof that when South Africans are given the tools and the platforms, they deliver world-class results. The universe, quite literally, is the limit.

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Southern Africa’s money just started moving more freely — and South Africa is at the centre of it. The Angolan kwanza has joined the Southern African Development Community real-time gross settlement (SADC-RTGS) system as a settlement currency, in a milestone for regional trade and financial integration.

The development was announced by South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago together with the Governor of the Banco Nacional de Angola, Manuel Tiago Dias.

A System Built and Run in South Africa

The SADC-RTGS system is operated by the South African Reserve Bank, as appointed by the SADC Committee of Central Bank Governors — a quiet but powerful example of South African institutional excellence serving the whole region. Since its inception in 2013, the system has settled transactions exclusively in South African rand, processing R250.7 billion worth of transactions per month, with 15 countries currently participating.

The kwanza is now the second settlement currency on the platform — and more are coming.

“The kwanza’s inclusion supports regional payments modernisation efforts and aligns with the Group of Twenty’s cross-border payment goals of reducing costs, increasing speed and improving efficiency in cross-border transactions,” SARB said.

What It Means for Businesses

The practical benefits land directly on traders’ bottom lines. By enabling direct settlement in kwanza, participants can reduce foreign exchange conversion requirements, lowering transaction costs for businesses and their customers.

“A more diverse set of settlement currencies in the system makes it easier for businesses and customers to transact across SADC countries in local currencies. Faster settlement can also help businesses manage cash flow more efficiently and access funds more quickly when trading across the region,” the Reserve Bank said.

That is especially timely news for the South African exporters who returned from Angola’s FILDA trade fair this week with dozens of fresh trade leads — the plumbing of regional commerce is being upgraded just as the goods start to flow.

More Currencies to Come

The SARB says the intention is to onboard additional regional currencies, such as the Botswana pula, in due course. The multi-currency capability is one of the strategic initiatives to strengthen regional financial integration, promote greater use of local and regional currencies in cross-border trade, and reduce reliance on currencies from outside the region.

“By joining the SADC-RTGS system, a country can enable its currency to play a greater role in regional trade and finance, reduce reliance on foreign currencies and intermediaries, lower the cost of doing business across borders and strengthen its position within the evolving Southern African and African financial landscape,” SARB said, according to SAnews.

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Southern Africa’s biggest public-private industrial gathering has come home to South Africa. The Government of South Africa, in collaboration with the SADC Business Council and the SADC Secretariat, is hosting the 2026 Annual SADC Industrialisation Week from 27 to 31 July 2026 at the Durban International Convention Centre in KwaZulu-Natal.

It is another feather in the cap for Durban and for the country — and another moment where South Africa takes the lead in shaping the region’s economic future.

The Region’s Largest Industrial Platform

SADC Industrialisation Week is widely regarded as the region’s largest public-private platform for advancing industrial development. Over five days, it brings together government leaders, industry representatives, investors and innovators from across the Southern African Development Community to promote sustainable industrial growth, deepen regional integration and strengthen the public-private partnerships that can unlock competitive cross-border value chains.

This year’s gathering runs under a bold theme: “Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.”

South African Expertise on Stage

South Africa’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Prof Blade Nzimande, will take part as a panellist, contributing to a discussion themed “Critical Minerals as a Driver of SADC Industrialisation in a Fragmented Global Economy.”

It is a conversation the region is well placed to lead. Southern Africa holds some of the world’s most sought-after critical minerals, and the week’s programme puts beneficiation, infrastructure and agricultural transformation at the centre of how those resources can power inclusive growth for the region’s people.

Curtain-Raiser for the SADC Summit

The timing adds extra shine. Industrialisation Week serves as a high-level precursor to the 46th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, which South Africa is also hosting in Durban — making KwaZulu-Natal the beating heart of regional diplomacy and economic cooperation this season.

For the host city, the benefits are tangible: thousands of delegates, packed hotels, busy restaurants and a global spotlight on the Durban International Convention Centre, one of Africa’s premier conference venues. For South African businesses, the week is a doorway to partnerships and value chains stretching across sixteen member states.

And for the region, it is a statement of intent — that Southern Africa intends to industrialise together, sustainably and inclusively, with South Africa proudly holding the door open. The full programme runs through 31 July at the Durban ICC, according to SAnews.

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Durban is preparing to welcome the leaders of Southern Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa will host Heads of State and Government from across the region on 17 August 2026, when South Africa assumes the chairship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) at the 46th Ordinary Summit, to be held at the Durban International Convention Centre.

The summit brings together the 16-member regional bloc to chart a shared course on economic growth, security and integration, and it hands South Africa the leadership baton at a moment of real regional ambition.

A theme built around industrialisation

President Ramaphosa will chair the summit under the theme Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World.

According to the SADC Secretariat, the theme underscores the importance of infrastructure, agriculture and critical minerals in advancing industrialisation, while building a region that is competitive, climate resilient, socially inclusive and capable of delivering a prosperous future for its citizens.

What the leaders will discuss

Among the items expected to shape the agenda are:

• The state of the SADC region, including global, continental and regional economic trends;
• Progress on decisions adopted at previous summits, including commitments made at the 45th Summit held in Madagascar last year;
• The operationalisation of the SADC Regional Development Fund, which is aimed at financing regional development projects and programmes;
• Regional food and nutrition security, disaster preparedness and the strengthening of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre.

The summit is the highest decision-making body of SADC, setting the strategic direction for regional cooperation, integration and development, and its arrival on South African soil puts Durban at the centre of the continent’s diplomatic calendar.

A season of activity for KwaZulu-Natal

The main event is preceded by a rich programme of gatherings, beginning with the Annual SADC Industrialisation Week from 27 to 31 July. Also on the calendar are meetings of the Standing Committee of Senior Officials, the Finance Committee and the SADC Council of Ministers, along with a public lecture at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and meetings of the SADC Organ Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.

For Durban, that means weeks of visiting delegations, regional attention and a showcase moment for the city’s conference infrastructure. For South Africa, the chairship is an opportunity to lead the region’s push towards inclusive industrial growth from the front.

Details of the summit were announced by the South African Government News Agency, SAnews.

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