'A comrade in struggle': Ramaphosa mourns the death of Namibia’s President Hage Geingob

• Namibian President Hage Geingob died in the early hours of Sunday in a hospital in Windhoek.
• President Cyril Ramaphosa and Kenyan President William Ruto both expressed their condolences.
• Geingob, who was serving his second term as president, revealed last month that he was receiving treatment for cancer.

Condolences have been streaming in following the death of Namibian President Hage Geingob, who died early on Sunday in a Windhoek hospital.

Geingob, who had been receiving treatment for cancer, was 82.

In a statement, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was deeply saddened by Geingob's passing.

"On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, President Ramaphosa extends deep condolences to the government and people of Namibia, and especially First Lady Madame Monica Geingob and the immediate and extended family," the statement read.

Ramaphosa also extended sympathies to acting Namibian President Dr Nangolo Mbumba, the cabinet and the leadership and members of the Swapo Party.

"Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state Namibia in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot and friend of South Africa. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Geingob family and the people of Namibia who have lost an outstanding leader in a year in which Namibia, like South Africa, is due to hold elections. I am deeply saddened at this time as I reflect on the privilege I had as recently as October 2023 to be hosted by President Geingob, Madame Geingos and the cabinet on a working visit to Namibia.

READ | Namibia's President Hage Geingob dies in hospital

"During the visit, we committed our two countries to even closer partnership, inspired in great measure by President Geingob's passionate conviction about our shared future as nations and greater opportunities and prosperity for citizens on both sides of the Orange River.

"President Geingob was a towering veteran of Namibia's liberation from colonialism and apartheid. He was also greatly influential in the solidarity that the people of Namibia extended to the people of South Africa so that we could be free today," Ramaphosa said.

Ramaphosa said he was filled with appreciation and sadness at the passing of a "comrade in struggle and a close partner in our democratic dispensation".

Kenyan President William Ruto also extended his deepest condolences and sympathy to the family and the people of Namibia following Geingob's death.

“President Geingob was a distinguished leader who served the people of Namibia with focus and dedication. He was a believer of a unified Africa and strongly promoted the continent's voice and visibility at the global arena. May God give the people of Namibia strength and courage during this difficult period," he posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

In a statement, the DA leader John Steenhuisen said Geingob's contribution to Namibia, South Africa, and the Southern African Development Community had been instrumental in fostering closer regional diplomatic ties and trade.

"As Namibia's longest serving prime minister, and third president, Geingob was instrumental in the growth and development of the Republic of Namibia since its independence in 1990. He also leaves an immense legacy as a freedom fighter and anti-apartheid activist who dedicated his life to the liberation of the Southern African people, often from exile in Botswana and the United States of America," said Steenhuisen.