Gauteng: The role of parliamentarians in enhancing public trust in governance will be among the issues discussed at the upcoming 19th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) Africa Region. Scheduled to be held at Emperors Palace in Gauteng from June 16 to 20, 2026, the conference will be co-hosted by Parliament and the Gauteng Provincial Legislature.

According to South African Government News Agency, the programme will commence with an opening ceremony at 2 PM. The CSPOC Africa Region will bring together 63 parliamentary presiding officers from national parliaments and sub-national legislatures across the continent. The event will be held under the theme: 'Proactive Parliaments and Sustainable Development: An Imperative for Political Stability in Africa.'

Key topics of discussion at the conference will include reforming and developing innovative mechanisms and strategies for effective and proactive parliamentary leadership in Africa's development, harnessing the potential of Africa's youth for sustainable development, and leveraging technology and digital tools for effective and sustainable development.

The conference is organized under the African regional branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), an international association established in 1911 to promote parliamentary democracy, good governance, and cooperation among legislatures across the Commonwealth. The CSPOC Africa Region is the largest regional gathering of Commonwealth legislative leaders, aiming to strengthen legislative institutions and advance accountability, effective oversight, and sustainable development across the continent.

Parliament stated, "The conference provides a platform for parliamentary leaders to exchange experiences and best practices, deliberate on matters of common interest, and explore ways of strengthening democratic institutions in support of sustainable development and political stability in Africa."