President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah will join regional leaders in South Africa to deliberate on key economic, industrialisation, infrastructure, peace and security priorities as she participates in the 46th Ordinary Summit of the Southern African Development Community Heads of State and Government in Durban.

The head of state arrived in South Africa today.

President Nandi-Ndaitwah's participation comes as SADC leaders prepare to set strategic priorities for regional cooperation and development and assess the socio-economic and political state of the region.

The summit will consider the overall state of the SADC region, taking account of global, continental and regional economic trends, with delegates to receive updates on member states' socio‑economic and political performance and deliberate measures to advance regional industrialisation and value chains.

Other key agenda items include boosting intra‑regional trade, improving infrastructure connectivity and aligning initiatives with the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The summit will also see the handover of the SADC Chairpersonship from Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will assume the regional bloc's chairmanship.

The summit, scheduled for 17 August 2026, will be hosted by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa under the theme "Resilient, Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialisation through Infrastructure Development, Agricultural and Critical Minerals Transformation in Pursuit of a Just World".

President Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to return on Tuesday, 18 August.