Ramaphosa urges re‑imagined SACU as Catalyst for regional economic sovereignty

Simon Nare

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for the Southern African Customs Union to be transformed into a premier regional economic platform from its traditional role of a customs arrangement to create a self-reliant economy for the bloc.

Opening the 9th SACU Summit in Cape Town on Friday, Ramaphosa said the union must adapt its framework and instruments to advance industrialization, strengthen regional value chains, promote economic diversification, attract investment, and improve the economic competitiveness of member states.

“This is essential because institutions that fail to adapt to changing realities ultimately become custodians of the past rather than architects of the future. Our Union has the potential to be more than a fiscal instrument. It must be a catalyst for development,” said the president.

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The union is a regional economic bloc, comprised of member states South