President Jacob Zuma arrived in Gaborone on Friday to attend the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit, where the political situation in Madagascar is expected to be discussed.
The summit, including SADC heads of state and government, takes place from November 19 to November 20, International Relations and Co-operation department spokesman Saul Molobi, said in a statement.
Heads of state will discuss the political situation in the region, including Madagascar, infrastructure development and economic integration in the region.
The Associated Press reported on Friday that civilians in Madagascar were ordered to evacuate the area in and around a military base near the capital Antananarivo's airport where mutinous soldiers have been holed up for three days.
This was after top officers on Wednesday called journalists to declare that they were taking over the country from Andry Rajoelina, the report said.
The move by the military reportedly took place as Madagascar held a referendum on a new constitution that would keep Rajoelina
in power indefinitely.
He took power, with military backing, from former President Marc Ravalomanana in a 2009 coup. Ravalomanana took refuge in Swaziland and then in South Africa, where he remains.
In September Ravalomanana was sentenced in absentia to hard labour for life after being found guilty of charges of murder and accessory to murder, a move reportedly frowned upon by South Africa.
At the time International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said the judgment in absentia would not help resolve the country's problems.
Former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano is the SADC mediator in the Madagascan crisis.
Molobi could not be reached for further comment on Friday.
South Africa takes part in the summit “in the context of its commitment to strengthening and consolidating SADC as a sub-regional economic bloc and a vehicle for the attainment sustainable regional political and economic integration and development”, the statement said.
The SADC headquarters in Gabarone is expected to be officially inaugurated during the summit.
Zuma was joined by Nkoana-Mashabane and other senior government officials. -
Sapa