Madam Deputy Speaker, the ANC will equally and joyfully celebrate with the SA Development Community, SADC, on its 30th anniversary in Namibia's capital, Windhoek. The SADC has been in existence since 1980 and its main aim was to co-ordinate development projects in order to lessen the economic dependence on the then apartheid South Africa.
Today, the SADC's vision is one of economic wellbeing; improved standards of living and quality of life; freedom and social justice; and peace and security for the people of Southern Africa. The SADC's common agenda is based on various principles such as development orientation; subsidiarity; market integration and development; facilitation and promotion of trade and investment; and variable geometry.
The SADC region is still facing a number of challenges that needs to be resolved so as to ensure its effective function. The ANC believes that it is important to consolidate SADC as a regional economic community. Therefore, the ANC government has to play a prominent role in strengthening and consolidating the region politically. I thank you. [Applause.]