Maseru - South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will pay his ninth visit to Maseru in the Kingdom of Lesotho from Monday-Tuesday 01-02 December 2014 in his capacity as SADC Facilitator to help create peace and stability in the country.

Deputy President Ramaphosa’s visit comes against the background of efforts to create a climate conducive for the holding of the brought forward elections scheduled for February 2015 and on a date still to be set by His Majesty King Letsie III.

The decision to hold early elections arose from decisions of SADC Heads of State and Government summits held in Victoria Falls, Windhoek and Pretoria earlier this year with a view to help return Lesotho political normalcy and stabilisation of the security situation. This was ratified by all Lesotho’s political parties who signed the Maseru Facilitation Declaration facilitated by the SADC Observer mission led by Deputy President Ramaphosa.

Since the appointment of the SADC Observer Mission to the country substantive progress has been made with the signing of both the Maseru Facilitation Declaration and the Maseru Security Accord which resulted in:

· The reconvening of parliament in October 2014

· The dissolution of parliament in December 2014

· Agreement to bring forward elections scheduled for February 2015 and on a date to be set by His Majesty King Letsie III

· The taking of leave of absence and undergo working visits to various African countries by three senior officers of the Lesotho Defence Force and Mounted Police Services

Deputy President and Facilitator, Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to return to South Africa on Tuesday 2 December 2014

For more information contact Ronnie Mamoepa on 082 990 4853.

Issued by: The Presidency

Pretoria