CAPE TOWN, South Africa | The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has appointed Eswatini executive Treasure Thembisile Maphanga as its new Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration and elected Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane as incoming chairperson of the bloc’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
The appointments were approved during an extraordinary virtual summit of SADC Heads of State and Government held on 21 October 2026 under the chairmanship of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Maphanga, who has three decades of experience in continental trade, industrial policy, the digital economy and institutional development, will oversee programmes aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and advancing regional integration among SADC member states.
Her professional experience spans policy formulation, trade negotiations, institutional reform, public private partnerships, resource mobilisation and programme implementation.
SADC expressed confidence that her expertise and leadership would help accelerate the implementation of regional priorities outlined in the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020 to 2030.
The Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration provides strategic oversight of initiatives covering regional trade, industrialisation, infrastructure development, food security, social and human development, and economic cooperation among member states.
Maphanga’s appointment comes as the regional bloc continues efforts to deepen economic integration and build a more prosperous and resilient Southern Africa.
She succeeds Angèle Makombo N’Tumba, whose four year contract at the SADC Secretariat ends on 26 October 2026. During the summit, member states expressed gratitude to N’Tumba for her service and contribution to regional integration and socio economic development.
The summit also elected Lesotho Prime Minister Ntsokoane Samuel Matekane as incoming chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
Matekane will join the Organ Troika alongside its current chairperson, Eswatini’s King Mswati III, and outgoing chairperson, Malawi President Arthur Peter Mutharika.
The Organ plays a central role in promoting peace, political stability and security cooperation among member states.
Beyond the leadership appointments, the summit addressed disaster preparedness and the region’s exposure to climate related emergencies ahead of the 2026/2027 El Niño and cyclone season.
SADC congratulated Mozambican President Daniel Francisco Chapo, the African Union Champion for Disaster Risk Management, on hosting the inaugural International Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience in Africa in Maputo from 13 to 15 October 2026.
Held under the theme, “Scaling Proactive Governance and Strategic Investment for Disaster Risk Reduction and a Resilient Africa”, the conference called for faster implementation of disaster risk reduction commitments, stronger partnerships and increased investment in resilience building initiatives across the continent.
Following the conference, the summit urged member states to strengthen regional disaster preparedness, improve anticipatory action and enhance coordination in responding to emerging humanitarian threats.
The call comes as Southern Africa prepares for the potential cascading effects of El Niño and the annual cyclone season, which can place additional pressure on vulnerable communities, infrastructure and national emergency response systems.
The summit also commended Ramaphosa and the South African government for hosting the extraordinary meeting and for their continued commitment to advancing regional integration.
Closing the meeting, Ramaphosa thanked the participating heads of state and government, as well as their representatives, for taking part in the discussions. He reiterated the importance of collective action in advancing regional integration, peace, stability and sustainable development across Southern Africa.
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