Overview
- The 58th SADC Parliamentary Forum opened in Durban with a focus on climate impacts on women and youth and on moving from diagnosis to parliamentary action.
- Deputy President Paul Mashatile urged a regional climate change strategy and action plan, mainstreaming climate across policies, stronger climate information services, and priority investment in water resource management.
- Mashatile called on parliaments to enact and strengthen laws aligned with SADC and global commitments, mandate gender‑sensitive policy mainstreaming, and facilitate clean‑energy transitions through enabling legislation.
- He emphasized tighter oversight, accountability, and dedicated funding for mitigation and adaptation, supported by robust monitoring and evaluation to track results for vulnerable groups.
- Officials cited the year’s floods affecting more than 21,000 people in Eastern Cape, KwaZulu‑Natal, and Northern Cape, as Boemo Sekgoma highlighted women’s frontline burdens and a youth representative warned that 60% of young people face severe pressure.