For a soundbite of the Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, presenting the country report, please click here: https://iono.fm/e/1624899
Durban, South Africa, Wednesday, 3 December 2025 – The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Thoko Didiza, told parliamentarians attending the 58th Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) Plenary Assembly, that South Africa was making tangible progress in implementing resolutions adopted at the 57th SADC-PF Plenary Assembly held in Zimbabwe in June this year.
While presenting South Africa’s country report, the Speaker highlighted the country’s achievements in this area. On the implementation of key resolutions from the 57th Plenary Assembly, Speaker Didiza noted progress in Artificial Intelligence (AI), gender equality, climate action, and democratic governance. “Our Parliament continues to oversee policy frameworks, legislative initiatives and programmes aimed at advancing socio-economic development while safeguarding national security and ethical standards,” the Speaker said.
Reflecting on gains in artificial intelligence, Speaker Didiza highlighted South Africa’s adoption of a National Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework that emphasises a human-centred approach. “We are committed to harnessing AI to address social and economic challenges responsibly and ensuring that innovation serves our people while upholding ethical and security standards.”
The Speaker also outlined progress on social priorities and parliamentary oversight. “The fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) remains a national imperative. Through legislative reforms, stakeholder engagement and public awareness campaigns, we are working to protect women, children and vulnerable communities across South Africa,” she said. In her report on gender equality and GBVF, Ms Didiza detailed ongoing parliamentary oversight over the South African Police Services, the Department of Justice and other stakeholders, as well as preparations for this year’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign under the theme “Unite to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls.”
Speaker Didiza also outlined improvements in oversight over portfolios such as correctional services, including infrastructure upgrades and the operationalisation of the South African Bail Fund to address injustices faced by remand detainees who cannot afford bail. She further highlighted significant cost savings through the revival of the Department of Correctional Services’ bakery programme, which now produces bread internally and transfers skills to detainees.
The Speaker also reflected on regional economic priorities and reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to sustainable growth and trade integration. “We continue to strengthen regional partnerships under SADC and AfCFTA (African Continental Free Trade Area). This is to ensure that our policies on critical minerals, trade and industrialisation benefit both our citizens and the wider region.” She also reflected on other matters of importance to the SADC-PF, including the impact of global tariff regimes on key South African industries, reforms in critical mineral mining and beneficiation, the strength of the democratic framework that ensures parliamentary succession, and South Africa’s parliamentary processes regarding the Draft Protocol on the SADC Parliament.
Reflecting on peace and security matters, Speaker Didiza reaffirmed South Africa’s firm stance against the development and deployment of lethal autonomous weapons systems. She also highlighted South Africa’s active participation in global negotiations, including at the UN Group of Governmental Experts and through parliamentary diplomacy at the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Speaker Didiza further reaffirmed South Africa’s adherence to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and encouraged continued peer learning among parliaments through the exchange of implementation reports. She also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to youth representation in future SADC-PF delegations and conveyed Parliament’s concern over reductions in international funding for HIV/AIDS programmes, which have led to clinic closures, job losses and threats to national health outcomes.
In closing, the Speaker emphasised South Africa’s determination to advance regional cooperation and uphold the SADC-PF’s collective decisions. “We have structured our report to demonstrate tangible progress and to reflect our unwavering commitment to the resolutions we collectively adopt. Our task is to ensure that every decision taken by this Forum translates into meaningful impact for the people of our region,” she said
The 58th Plenary Assembly of the SADC-PF continues in Durban until 5 December 2025.
*The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum is a regional inter-parliamentary body composed of Members of Parliament from SADC Member State national parliaments, representing over 3,500 parliamentarians in the SADC Region.
ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
Enquiries: Moloto Mothapo, Parliament Spokesperson
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