Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa concludes urgent visit to Lesotho, 01 July 2015

Maseru - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa today Wednesday 01 July 2015 concluded his urgent visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho as directed by the Chairperson of the SADC Troika on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Jacob Zuma.

During his visit Deputy President Ramaphosa paid a courtesy call on His Majesty King Letsie III, interacted with Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili and his government coalition partners, met the Lesotho Christian Council, civil society including Lesotho Chamber of Commerce,   College of Chiefs, Lesotho Law Society.

Deputy President Ramaphosa also visited the home of the slain former Commander of Lesotho Defence Force, Lt. General Maaparankoe Mahao where he met with the widow and other family members.

Deputy President Ramaphosa extended the invitation of President Jacob Zuma to Prime Minister Mosisili to attend the forthcoming SADC Double Troika Summit of Heads of State scheduled to be held in Pretoria later in the week.

Secondly, Deputy President Ramaphosa conveyed the response of President Jacob Zuma to the requests of Prime Minister Mosisili for SADC to provide investigators to assist in the investigation of the murder of Lt. General Mahao. In this regard, SADC member-states of Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide experts to assist in the investigation.

Thirdly, Deputy President Ramaphosa conveyed the decision of President Jacob Zuma to make two South African pathologists available to assist the Kingdom of Lesotho and the family of Lt. General Mahao during the post-mortem process.

Deputy President Ramaphosa further expressed the condolences of SADC and of President Jacob Zuma to the widow and family of the late Lt. General Mahao during a visit to his homestead in Maseru.

Deputy President Ramaphosa is expected to present his SADC Facilitation Report on Lesotho including reflections of the proposed constitutional and security sector reforms to the SADC Double Troika Summit of Heads of States in Pretoria later in the week.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria