Johannesburg – Deputy President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday paid a working visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho as part of his mandate as Southern African Development Community (SADC) Facilitator to assist the country to consolidate peace and security.
Ramaphosa paid a courtesy call on His Majesty King Letsie III and held discussions with Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili and his coalition leaders, Presidency spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister and his coalition partners briefed Deputy President Ramaphosa among others about efforts to institute constitutional and security sector reforms,” Mamoepa said.
Ramaphosa met with representatives of the opposition political parties, Christian Council of Lesotho, College of Chiefs and the family of the late Brigadier Maaparankoe Mahao.
“Deputy President Ramaphosa will table his report on consultations with various Lesotho’s stakeholders to the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Swaziland at the end of the month of August.”
Mamoepa said the visit comes against the background of preparations for the forthcoming SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government scheduled for Mbabane, Swaziland from August 29 to 31, which is expected to review the political security situation in the region.
During the SADC Double Troika Summit, held in June 2016 in Gaborone, Botswana, Ramaphosa was mandated to facilitate the return of opposition political party leaders back to Lesotho from South Africa.
African News Agency (ANA)