President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams and former South African Under-18 rugby prop Luqobo Makwedini following their deaths.
Adams died at the age of 25, while Makwedini passed away at the age of 20. In a statement issued on Saturday, the President extended his condolences to both families, as well as to Adams’ teammates in Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns, and Makwedini’s former South Africa Under-18 teammates and club colleagues in France.
Ramaphosa described the deaths as a tragic loss for South African sport.
“It is particularly tragic that we are suffering the loss of two outstanding young athletes at a time when our nation continues to immerse itself in the FIFA World Cup tournament, as well as the Springboks’ and Springbok Women’s matches against Scotland and the USA Eagles in Pretoria today,” he said.
The President said South Africans would remember the contribution both athletes made to the country through their performances on the international stage.
“We are grateful for the joy and victories Jayden and Luqobo have given us and their teams as they lived their dreams and held South Africa’s name high on the scoreboards of global sport.”
Ramaphosa concluded his message by saying: “May their souls rest in peace.”
