SADC Facilitator, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives in Lesotho

Maseru - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa has today, Wednesday 4 March 2015, arrived in Maseru in the Kingdom of Lesotho on a working in his capacity as the SADC Facilitator to the country.

During his visit to Maseru, the Facilitator Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to pay a courtesy call on his Majesty King Letsie III, meet Leader of Democratic Congress Prof Mosisili, Leader of All Basotho Convention Dr. Tom Thabane, Leader of Lesotho Congress for Democracy Mr. Mothejoa Metsing, Chairperson of the IEC, Christian Council of Lesotho, Collage of Chiefs, Coalition of NGOs and senior officers of the Lesotho Defence force and Lesotho Mounted Police.

The Facilitator Deputy President Ramaphosa’s visit comes against the background of the recently concluded SADC Facilitated brought forward elections held on Saturday 28 February 2015. The elections were declared credible, free and fair by the various elections observer missions deployed in the country before and on elections day- namely SADC, AU, Commonwealth and EISA.

Deputy President Ramaphosa had visited the country on the day of elections, Saturday 28 February 2015 to bear witness to history and democracy in action during the voting processes. In this regard and during his visit on Saturday, Deputy President Ramaphosa visited four voting stations and the IEC Elections Results Centre.

The elections were held in line with decisions of the SADC Troika of Heads of State and Government and facilitated by the SADC Observer Mission led by Deputy President Ramaphosa as an integral part of regional efforts to restore peace and stability in Lesotho.

The Facilitator is expected to return to South Africa on Thursday 5 March 2015.

Enquiries: Ronnie Mamoepa 082 990 4853

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria