Parliament, Saturday, 29 November 2025 – The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa is hosting the 58th Plenary Assembly of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), from 30 November to 5 December 2025, to discuss the impact of climate change on women and youth.
The 58th Plenary Assembly, a biannual gathering of Speakers and MPs from 15 SADC Member Parliaments, will hold its opening ceremony at the Durban International Convention Centre on Sunday, 30 November, and then move to the rest of the programme to the Coastlands Hotel and Convention Centre in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, from Monday, 1 to 5 December. The Plenary Assembly will be held under the theme: “The Impact of Climate Change on Women and Youth in the SADC Region and the Role of Parliaments in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.”
The programme of the six-day plenary kicks off tomorrow with an opening ceremony at the Durban ICC, to be addressed by the Deputy President of the Republic, Mr. Paul Mashatile, and the new Speaker of the Parliament of Madagascar and President of the SADC PF, Mr. Siteny Thierry Randrianasolonioaikio. The Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Thami Ntuli, the Speaker of the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature, Ms Nontembeko Boyce, and the Executive Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Mr Cyril Xaba, as the leaders of the host province and host city, are scheduled to make remarks to the parliamentary delegations.
The program will unite parliamentarians from 15 SADC Member States, along with representatives from continental and regional organisations, development partners, academia, civil society, and youth groups. The SADC PF is a legislative organ of SADC and has, since 1996, played a key role in strengthening parliamentary democracy, regional integration, and harmonisation of legislation that promotes development throughout Southern Africa. The Plenary Assembly, which meets twice a year and is hosted by one of the 15 member Parliaments on a rotating basis, serves as the policy-making and deliberative body of the SADC Parliamentary Forum, which is composed of the Speakers and up to five other representatives elected by each national Parliament.
On day two, the Symposium, to be held at the Coastlands Hotel and Convention Centre, will discuss critical climate change topics, namely, the impact of disasters in human settlements; the SA government’s perspective on climate change; and the eThekwini Municipality’s perspective and experiences in responding to recurrent floods, amongst others.
The SADC Parliamentary Forum plays a critical role in ensuring a coordinated and collaborative approach by Parliaments in building the requisite capacity for parliamentarians and relevant parliamentary committees on how they can utilise their law-making and oversight mandate to ensure a more inclusive and equitable SADC region.
Details of the opening ceremony:
Date: Sunday, 30 November 2025
Time: 10:00
Venue: Durban International Convention Centre, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Media Attendance
Members of the media wishing to attend the 58th Plenary Assembly are requested to send their details to Malentsoe Magwagwa at mmagwagwa@parliament.gov.za / 081 716 5824 (call/WhatsApp) and Modise Kabeli at mkabeli@parliament.gov.za / 081 715 9969 (call/WhatsApp).
Please provide the following information:
- Full name
- ID or passport number
- Name of media house
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo, Parliament Spokesperson
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