Southern African Customs Union

SACU Senior Officials met in Pretoria, South Africa, on 17–19 March 2026 for the 23rd Meeting of the Trade Facilitation Technical Committee of Senior Officials (TFTC-SO).

Participants reviewed progress on the refinement of the Committee’s Terms of Reference and considered the Annual Report, Work Plan and priority activities for 2026/27 Financial Year, including infrastructure project planning, a trade digitalisation framework and tools for SPS, TBT, non-tariff barriers and reviewed consolidated feedback on the SACU trading. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Palesa Moitse from the South Africa revenue service (SARS)

Revenue Services Lesotho
Eswatini Revenue Service
Botswana Unified Revenue Service - BURS
Namibia Revenue Agency-NamRA

The Executive Secretary of the SACU, Mr. Dumisani Masilela, formally presented his credentials today to Honourable Ambassador Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and Trade of Namibia, following his appointment as the fourth Executive Secretary of SACU, effective 1 March 2026.

Today, the Executive Secretary of SACU, Mr. Dumisani Masilela, hosted a courtesy visit by the Deputy Director-General of the Department of WTO Affairs, Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Han Changtian, who was accompanied by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Namibia, His Excellency Mr. Zhao Weiping. The engagement provided an opportunity for the two parties to explore avenues of possible working relations and enhanced cooperation.

Today, the Acting Executive Secretary of SACU, Ms. Alma Andrade, received H.E. Hoang Sy Cuong, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to South Africa, and his delegation during a courtesy call at the SACU Headquarters.

The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest and to explore avenues for cooperation, with a view to strengthen bilateral relations between SACU and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Explore the newly released SACU in Figures 2025, presenting key regional indicators as at 30 January 2026.

This edition presents insights on:
• Population trends across Member States;
• GDP performance and sectoral shifts;
• Merchandise and intra-SACU trade flows; and
• Inflation trends and macroeconomic stability

The publication highlights a growing population, increasing regional trade integration, a continued shift toward services, and easing inflation across the SACU region. Designed as a quick reference for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders, SACU in Figures 2025 provides an evidence-based view of the region’s evolving economic landscape.

Read the full publication on our website. www.sacu.int

We are hiring! The SACU Secretariat invites suitably qualified professionals to apply for the position of Internal Auditor. Click here for more details: www.sacu.int

The 13th Operational Meeting of the SACU Tariff and Trade Remedies Experts took place on 4 – 7 November 2025 at Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. The Meeting was chaired by Mr. Phuti Nong on behalf of the Chairperson, Mr. Innocent Sbu Khumalo of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition South Africa.

The Meeting deliberated on issues pertinent to ensure deeper and continuous collaboration among the Member States as well as capacity building on tariffs and trade remedies in SACU.

We are still listening. The SACU Stakeholder Perception Survey remains open until 7 November 2025. Do not miss your chance to share your views and help us improve how we engage with you. Click here to access the survey: https://www.research.net/r/SACU25

Delegates at the SACU Commission Retreat held on 10 - 11 October 2024 in Swakopmund, Namibia.

The SACU meetings, which started earlier this week in Swakopmund, Namibia, concluded today with the Commission Retreat, chaired by the Executive Director in the Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises for the Republic of Namibia, Mr. Titus Ndove. All Member States were in attendance.

Eswatini Government
Namibia Revenue Agency-NamRA
Ministry of Finance and Public Enterprises- Republic of Namibia
South African Revenue Service (SARS)
Revenue Services Lesotho
Ministry of Trade and Industry Botswana
The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition South Africa
Botswana Unified Revenue Service - BURS