Question NW1099 to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
13 April 2023 - NW1099
Hlengwa, Mr M to ask the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation
Whether following her visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where she led the South African delegation to the Meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers, held from 18 to 19 March 2023, any agreements were signed and / or agreed to; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) Whether she will furnish Mr Hlengwa with the relevant details and / or an update on the Operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre ( (3) SHOC), as the issue was reportedly discussed; if not why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
Reply:
1. No agreements were signed during the Southern Development Community (SADC) Council of Ministers Meeting held from 18-19 March 2023 in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
2. The decision on the operationalisation of the SADC Humanitarian and Emergency Operations Centre (SHOC) was first taken by the Council of Ministers in its meeting held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in August 2019. Subsequent Council meetings of this body considered and approved standard operating procedures, staffing and budgetary issues pertaining to SHOC as well as a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to establish the SHOC, with Mozambique as the host. The SADC Secretariat continues to work with the Government of Mozambique to expedite the signing of the Hosting Agreement for the SHOC. Once the Hosting Agreement is signed, the Secretariat will commence with deployment of staff to the SHOC in Mozambique.