Pretoria – Defence Minister Angie Motshekga is the acting president of South Africa in the absence of President Ramaphosa, who is attending the 44th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government in Harare, Zimbabwe.
In a terse statement, Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President said: “President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Ms. Angie Motshekga to serve as Acting President today, Saturday, 17 August 2024”.
Magwenya added: “The appointment has been made in view of the President’s Working Visit today to Harare, Zimbabwe, to participate in the 44th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community”.
President Ramaphosa arrived in Harare Saturday morning.
The 44th Ordinary Summit of SADC Heads of State and Government will take place today under the theme: “Promoting Innovation to unlock opportunities for sustained economic growth and development towards an Industrialised SADC”.
As South Africa commemorates the 30th Anniversary of its democracy and freedom, it will equally mark the 30th Anniversary of its membership and active participation in SAD.
South Africa joined the regional body in August 1994.
“The Summit will provide an opportunity for SADC leaders to assess and review progress made in terms of the region’s flagship integration agenda, the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, which is about promoting peace and security, good governance, socio-economic development and integration in the region,” Mangwenya said.
“The President will participate in discussions on the agenda of the summit that include the status of member state contributions, regional food and nutrition security, the status of health in the region, implementation of the SADC Industrialisation Strategy and Roadmap as well as candidatures to continental and international organisations.
“The President will also sign two SADC legal instruments; the SADC Declaration on Accelerating Action to End AIDS as a Public Health Threat in the Region by 2030 as well as the Agreement Amending the SADC Protocol on Gender and Development.”
During the Summit, Zimbabwe will assume the Chairpersonship of SADC, taking over from Angola, which chaired SADC since the previous Summit held in Luanda, in August 2023.
President Ramaphosa is supported by International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
Earlier this week, Minister Lamola attended the SADC Council of Ministers Meeting, which took place from 13-14 August 2024.
A SADC Organ Troika Summit was also held on 16 August 2024.
