Your Excellency, President of ECOSOC, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen.
We enter this debate in this month of July as we approach the 18 July as an inspirational day declared by the United Nations as Nelson Mandela International Day. The 18th of July 2026 is etched in our collective memory and international calendar as a milestone day on which we should intentionally reconnect to the values of humanity and peaceful co-existence in the spirit of our national hero and international icon.
With only four years remaining until the 2030 deadline for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets, the global community faces the urgent responsibility of accelerating action to achieve these goals.
On our part, South Africa remains firmly committed to the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Our commitment is grounded in the principles of inclusivity, equality, human dignity, and sustainable economic transformation.
Accordingly, the SDGs continue to guide South Africa’s national development priorities and are integrated into the implementation of the National Development Plan (NDP) Vision 2030 and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP).
We recognise that sustainable development requires a balanced approach that advances economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability simultaneously.
We therefore continue to strengthen efforts to reduce poverty, inequality, and unemployment, while promoting sustainable industrialisation, climate resilience, food security, energy transition, and social protection.
South Africa remains committed to ensuring that no one is left behind, particularly women, youth, persons with disabilities, rural communities, and other vulnerable groups.
We also continue to strengthen partnerships with civil society, the private sector, academia, development partners, and international organisations to support inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.
Mr President Economic inclusion, gender equality, climate resilience, social protection, youth empowerment, digital transformation, and environmental sustainability are not opposing aims—they are complementary foundations of sustainable development.
Despite a challenging global and domestic environment, South Africa has made progress in several areas.
Access to electricity, safe drinking water, sanitation, digital connectivity, and social protection services has improved over the years. Investments in renewable energy and sustainable industrialisation are contributing to a more resilient and inclusive economy.
The expansion of broadband infrastructure and digital access is creating new opportunities for innovation, education, and economic participation. At the same time, we acknowledge that significant challenges remain.
Excellencies, South Africa recognises that achieving the SDGs requires stronger implementation, partnerships, and financing. We continue to prioritise infrastructure investment and maintenance, energy transition initiatives, industrial development, youth employment, skills development, and climate resilience.
However, developing countries cannot achieve the SDGs alone. The international community must honour commitments related to financing for development, technology transfer, capacity building, debt sustainability, and reform of the global financial architecture. There is an urgent need for scaled-up concessional financing and equitable access to climate finance to support sustainable development priorities in the Global South.
As we move closer to 2030, we must accelerate implementation through bold leadership, policy coherence, innovation, and strengthened partnerships.
Mr President, Our delegation congratulates all Member States that have presented their Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) during this session of the HLPF. These presentations reflect a strong commitment to implementing the 2030 Agenda and demonstrated innovative approaches, valuable lessons, and practical solutions to advance sustainable development.
South Africa also looks forward to presenting its next Voluntary National Review in 2027. This will provide an important opportunity to reflect on our progress, challenges, lessons learned, and measures being implemented to accelerate the progress towards the SDGs within the framework of our National Development Plan and the African Agenda 2063.
We end by acknowledging that our National Development Plan is part of South Africa’s policy evolution which began with Nelson Mandela’s Reconstruction and Development Plan after South Africa’s liberation of in 1994.
In conclusion, South Africa reaffirms the importance of solidarity, inclusive growth, and sustainable development that leaves no one behind.
I Thank You. | 
