Speakers and MPs at 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) Africa Region in Gauteng, South Africa

Commonwealth Speakers and MPs from the CPA Africa Region met for the 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) Africa Region, jointly hosted by the Parliament of South Africa and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on the theme of ‘Proactive Parliaments and Sustainable Development: An Imperative for Political Stability in Africa’.

The conference was opened by the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Ms Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane (above) who is also the CPA President (2026).

The NCOP Chairperson underscored the need for parliamentary institutions to be responsive, innovative and transformative spaces that advance democracy, promote peace and drive sustainable development across the continent. She noted that the conference provides an important platform for delegates to explore practical ways of strengthening Parliaments to better serve the people of Africa and contribute to a stable and prosperous future. Read the speech in full.

The South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon. Ronald Lamola (above) delivered the keynote address in which he reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to democracy, Pan-African solidarity and human dignity. The Minister urged African leaders to address the root causes of migration through economic growth, job creation, regional integration and opportunities for the continent’s youth. Read the speech in full.

The Chairperson of the CPA Africa Region, Rt Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, MP, Speaker of the National Assembly of The Gambia outlined that the conference serves as a critical platform for heads of national Parliaments to align on legislative goals and to address the pressing challenges of governance and regional stability. It also underscores the commitment to dialogue on sustainable development and the empowerment of Africa's youth.

The Speaker of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, Hon. Morakane Mosupyoe, MPL, CPA Gauteng Branch President also welcomed delegates to the conference.

The 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) Africa Region was held at Emperors Palace in Gauteng, South Africa from 15 to 20 June 2026.

Above: Heads of delegation at the 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) Africa Region in Gauteng, South Africa. Click here for more images.

Delegates at 19th CSPOC Africa discussed a variety of topics, including the role of Parliaments in enhancing public trust in governance, and reforming and developing innovative mechanisms and strategies for effective and proactive parliamentary leadership in Africa’s development. Other topics included the role of Parliaments in harnessing the potential of young people in Africa for sustainable development and leveraging technology and digital tools for effective and sustainable development.

The conference brought together national and subnational Branches of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region including Botswana, Cameroon, Eswatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia as well as several South African Provincial Legislatures as observers.

Above: As part of the 19th CSPOC Africa and in honour of 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising of 1976, conference delegates participated in wreath-laying ceremonies at the Hector Pieterson Memorial and the Tsietsi Mashinini Memorial led by the President of the Republic of South Africa, His Excellency Cyril M. Ramaphosa.

The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on the enduring legacy of the struggle for freedom, democracy and human dignity, while reaffirming the vital role of young people in shaping Africa's future.

In advance of the Conference, the Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, Hon. Thoko Didiza, MP highlighted that international participation is one of the South African Parliament’s objectives and positioned Parliament on the global stage. The South African Parliament will host the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in September this year in Cape Town. She said:

“Our history has taught us that we cannot take freedom for granted. We also know that our future is fundamentally interlinked with the other nations across Africa and the world, and for this reason, this Parliament must continue to build relationships with our partners through multilateral platforms that our Parliament participates in.”

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region has 63 member Parliaments, which comprise national Parliaments and Provincial Legislatures.

• CSPOC Africa operates through the CPA Africa Region and is separate from the CSPOC Conference. CSPOC is a separate independent organisation, although many of its participants are also members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. For more information about the Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) please visit www.cspoc.org. 

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The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association connects, develops, promotes and supports Parliamentarians and their staff to identify benchmarks of good governance and the implementation of the enduring values of the Commonwealth. The CPA is an international community of around 180 Commonwealth Parliaments and Legislatures working together to deepen the Commonwealth’s commitment to the highest standards of democratic governance.

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