By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the need to move beyond traditional customs arrangements and build Southern Africa into one of the world’s most competitive regional production hubs.
Ramaphosa officially opened the 9th Summit of the Southern Africa Customs Union Heads of State and Government.
South Africa is hosting the 9th SACU Summit of Heads of State and Government at the Cape Town International Convention Centre 2 (CTICC 2) in Cape Town.
The Summit brings together the Heads of State and Government and representatives of the five SACU Member States, namely Botswana, Kingdom of Eswatini, Kingdom of Lesotho, Namibia and the South Africa, to deliberate on key issues affecting regional economic integration, industrial development and trade cooperation.
Facing a global economy reshaped by shifting trade patterns and reconfigured supply chains, Ramaphosa stated that no African country could prosper alone.
To counter global uncertainties, tariff disputes, and economic fragmentation, the “Re-Imagined Sacu” framework aims to reduce dependencies and enhance intra-African trade.
The President said work had begun on regional value chains in fertilisers, agrochemicals and seed production, while initiatives in the automotive and battery manufacturing sectors were also progressing.
A regional investment roundtable is expected later this year to mobilise funding for these industries.
The summit also welcomed the results of joint regional enforcement operations targeting illicit tobacco and tobacco products. According to Ramaphosa, the operations had led to the seizure of illicit goods, arrests, financial penalties and the recovery of excise duties and value-added tax.
He said work was also under way to develop strategies for the automotive and minerals beneficiation sectors, alongside a long-term industrialisation strategy for the customs union.
All SACU member states are now implementing tariff concessions under the AfCFTA, the President said, adding that leaders agreed on the need for an export strategy to boost intra-African trade and maximise the benefits of existing trade agreements.
He said the summit had also emphasised the importance of concluding trade negotiations more quickly to diversify export markets and improve the region’s resilience amid geopolitical tensions and changes in global trade patterns.
Ramaphosa’s term as chair of the SACU Summit ends on 14 July.
Meanwhile Ramaphosa will undertake a Working Visit to France from 10-12 July 2026.
The visit comes at the invitation of the Director-General of UNESCO, Mr Khaled El-Enany, to co-chair the UNESCO High-Level Steering Committee on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4) on education, which will be held at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on 10 July 2026.
This will be followed by the Transforming Education Summit (TES) Stocktake.
On 12 July, the president is expected to attend the 110th Commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood which will be held at the South African Memorial in Longueval, approximately two hours from Paris.