KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Honourable Thamsanqa Ntuli, has reaffirmed the province’s commitment to regional integration, solidarity and shared economic growth during the SADC Public Lecture hosted at the University of KwaZulu-Natal on Friday, 14 August 2026.

Delivering welcoming remarks, Premier Ntuli welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa, delegates and guests to KwaZulu-Natal for the lecture, held under the theme, “Translating SADC Vision 2050 into Action: Pathways Towards Solidarity, Equality and Shared Prosperity.”

Premier Ntuli said the gathering was more than an academic engagement, describing it as a call to collective purpose at a time when rapidly changing economic and geopolitical dynamics require Southern Africa to become more proactive, anticipative and agile.

He said countries within the region must develop programmes and systems capable of adapting to emerging economic and geopolitical realities.

Welcoming delegates to KwaZulu-Natal, Premier Ntuli reflected on the province’s rich history of leadership and unity, drawing inspiration from King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, Inkosi Albert Luthuli, His Majesty King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.

The Premier said these leaders shared a belief in African dignity and unity, values which remain central to the vision of a united and prosperous Southern African region.

“Continental unity is not a slogan. It is a responsibility,” said Premier Ntuli.

He said SADC was founded on the vision of a Southern Africa that stands together, trades together and grows together, adding that KwaZulu-Natal was honoured to host an important chapter in the advancement of that vision.

Premier Ntuli also called for greater investment in public diplomacy and stronger people-to-people relations among SADC countries.

He expressed concern that citizens often know more about countries outside the African continent than they do about neighbouring states within the SADC region.

The Premier said education, media, cultural cooperation and exchange programmes could play an important role in changing this.

“Our schools must teach regional history, not only national history. Our media must tell regional stories, not only local stories. Our universities must exchange students across this region, so that a young person from Durban studies in Harare, and a young person from Windhoek studies in Pietermaritzburg,” said Premier Ntuli.

He emphasised that regional integration must extend beyond agreements between governments and become something that citizens understand and experience in their everyday lives.

“A Summit succeeds not only in what is signed, but in what is understood,” said Premier Ntuli.

He called for renewed investment in exchange programmes, regional media partnerships and cultural cooperation to enable citizens across Southern Africa to see one another not as strangers, but as neighbours and partners with a shared future.

Turning to economic integration, Premier Ntuli described SADC as the architecture of shared prosperity, linking 16 economies through the movement of goods, people and capital across borders.

The Premier highlighted KwaZulu-Natal’s strategic position at the heart of the regional economy, with the Port of Durban, Richards Bay and the North-South Corridor providing important gateways for trade between South Africa and other countries in the region.

He said KwaZulu-Natal’s infrastructure must therefore be viewed not only as provincial infrastructure, but as infrastructure serving the wider Southern African economy.

“Every rand we invest in our ports serves this region. Every improvement to our logistics corridors serves this region. Every partnership we build serves the SADC vision of shared growth,” said Premier Ntuli.

He added that when regional trade expands, KwaZulu-Natal also benefits through increased economic activity, investment and opportunities.

“KwaZulu-Natal does not merely host this Summit. KwaZulu-Natal lives the mission of this Summit, every day, through our harbours, our highways, and our trade,” said Premier Ntuli.

Concluding his welcoming remarks, Premier Ntuli reaffirmed the province’s readiness to strengthen trade, partnerships and regional cooperation in pursuit of a united and prosperous Southern Africa.

“As you deliberate this week, know that KwaZulu-Natal stands ready - ready to trade, ready to partner, ready to build the united, prosperous Southern Africa that SADC was founded to achieve,” said Premier Ntuli.

The Premier welcomed delegates to KwaZulu-Natal and wished them productive deliberations as they work towards translating SADC Vision 2050 into practical programmes that advance solidarity, equality and shared prosperity across the region.