Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend Post-elections National Dialogue in Maseru, Lesotho, on Wednesday 18 October 2017

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will, in his capacity as SADC Facilitator to the Kingdom of Lesotho, pay a working visit to Lesotho to attend the landmark Post-Elections National Dialogue in Maseru, Lesotho, on Wednesday 18 October 2017.
 
The National Dialogue, which will be held under the auspices of the Lesotho Council of NGOs (LCN), will be officially opened by the Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho, the Hon Monyane Moleleki.

Deputy President Ramaphosa will deliver a message of encouragement to delegates.
 
The SADC Oversight Committee, the SADC Council of NGOs and the United Nations will participate in the two-day event. Invitees include opposition party representatives, parties in government, heads of churches, the College of Chiefs, civil society organisations, academics, media and the Independent Electoral Commission.
 
The main objective of the LCN is to provide supportive services to the NGO community in Lesotho through networking, leadership, information dissemination, capacity building, coordination, democracy, human rights, advocacy and lobbying, and representation when dealing with the international community and government. The Dialogue follows calls by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for a multi-stakeholder dialogue that will address, in an inclusive way, security reforms, constitutional reforms, media reforms and public service reforms.
 
During a working visit to Lesotho by Deputy President Ramaphosa on 9 August 2017, the coalition government in the Kingdom, opposition parties, non-governmental organisations, religious leaders and the College of Chiefs respectively expressed their commitment to a multi-stakeholder dialogue directed towards long-term peace and stability. All these constituencies will participate in the 18 October National Dialogue.
 
The Dialogue will facilitate discussion on, among other issues, the complexities of the Lesotho electoral process; issues associated with securing national peace, political stability, reconciliation and transitional justice; pre-conditions for undertaking successful reforms, and key considerations on the process, structures and leadership that should accompany the reform process in the Kingdom.
 
Deputy President to respond to Questions in the National Assembly
 
In view of the significance of the Lesotho National Dialogue and the role of the Deputy President as SADC Facilitator, Parliament has granted Deputy President Ramaphosa special permission to respond to Questions for Oral Reply in the National Assembly on Thursday, 19 October 2017 – a day later than originally scheduled by Parliament.
 
Questions for Oral Reply submitted to Deputy President Ramaphosa address, among other issues are, perceived and real corruption in state-owned entities; enhancing the competitiveness and investor-friendliness of the South African economy; poverty alleviation programmes and the state of South Africa’s youth.
 
Enquiries: Tyrone Seale 083 5757 440, Acting Spokesperson for the Deputy President
 

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria