The government spent R397 million to host the Southern African Development Community Summit in Durban
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola said the government spent R397 million to host the Southern African Development Community Summit.
The Southern African Development Community Summit took place at the Durban International Conference Centre from 3 August to 18 August 2026.
President Cyril Ramaphosa chaired the summit as South Africa assumed the Chairpersonship of SADC under the theme:
Resilient, sustainable and inclusive industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World
“The theme emphasised the development of infrastructure, agriculture, and critical minerals to advance industrialisation,” the government said.
“It also focused on building a SADC region that is industrially competitive, climate resilient, socially inclusive, and delivers a just and prosperous future for SADC citizens.”
The 46th SADC Summit deliberated on a range of issues aimed at accelerating regional integration and development.
These include the state of the SADC region, global, continental, and regional economic trends, and updates on the SADC Region’s socio-economic and political performance.
It also addressed the priorities of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020–2030 and Vision 2050.
It highlighted that SADC’s objectives are to achieve development, peace and security, and economic growth.
It is also aimed at alleviating poverty, enhancing the standard and quality of life of the peoples of Southern Africa, and supporting the socially disadvantaged.
This, it said, is done through regional integration, built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development.
The cost of the Southern African Development Community Summit
National Assembly member Ryan Smith asked Minister Ronald Lamola for details about the cost of hosting the summit.
These details included a breakdown of the costs of security, logistics, and protocol which South African taxpayers had to cover.
Lamola responded, saying that the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) hosted the Southern African Development Community Summit.
He explained that the event began with the senior officials’ meeting and the council of ministers, leading to the leaders’ summit.
“Hosting the event amounted to R397 million for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, as all departments were spending individually,” he said.
He said that the security costs for the Southern African Development Community Summit were covered by the Security Cluster departments.
The logistics costs for the summit totalled R394 million, while the protocol costs were R3 million.
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How absolutely disgusting? What did this give to normal SANS – ABSOLUTELY NOTHING and they have the audacity to stand their smiling their FALSE smiles. THEY (ANC) has no idea how to run ANYTHING without spending MILLIONS OR BILLIONS which go into the back pocket and the Country has a UNEMPLOYMENT rate so high that youngsters turn to selling drugs to make money to eat. This is SCHOCKING behaviour happening in all Municipalities run by ANC as well. They have good and solid destroyed South Africa on their OWN.