By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been appointed as the interim Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Ramaphosa’s appointment was confirmed at the regional bloc’s virtual extraordinary summit which took place on Friday night.
This follows Madagascar’s decision to relinquish leadership of the regional bloc due to ongoing political unrest.
The unrest has raised concerns over the country’s ability to fulfil its leadership responsibilities within the regional body.
“In accordance with Articles 9A(2)(b) and 10(4) of the SADC Treaty, the Incoming Chairperson (Deputy Chairperson) shall assume interim leadership should the sitting Chair be unable to fulfil their duties, “a communique issued at the end of the meeting said.
“In this regard, the Republic of South Africa was appointed as Interim Chair of SADC until August 2026.”
The SADC Secretariat will consult member states to identify a new deputy chairperson by 30 November in accordance with the bloc’s rotational leadership principle.
Despite the leadership transition, SADC will continue implementing the theme adopted at its 45th Summit in Antananarivo: “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC.”
Meanwhile Pope Leo XIV received Ramaphosa on Saturday in South Africa’s first high-level engagement with the newly appointed pontiff of the Catholic Church.
Leo, the former Cardinal Robert Prevost, was elected on May 8 to replace the late Pope Francis, becoming the first US-born leader of the 1.4-billion Catholic Church.
During their meeting at the Vatican, the two leaders were expected to address the issues of humanitarian aid, climate justice, emergency response, and peace building.
Ramaphosa presented the pope with two books on two icons of his country, former President Nelson Mandela and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Leo reciprocated by offering a sculpture representing intergenerational dialogue, a photo album of the Apostolic Palace and a message of peace delivered by his predecessor, Pope Francis, on January 1.
According to a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, during the “cordial talks,” “mutual appreciation was expressed for the valuable contribution that the Catholic Church provides to South Africa,” particularly “in the areas of education and healthcare.”
There was also recognition, the statement noted, of the Church’s “ongoing commitment to foster dialogue and reconciliation within society.”
The leaders also discussed shared values, including the South African principle of Ubuntu, which aligns with the Pope’s vision for a more compassionate and inclusive global community.