Ramaphosa hails late Geingob as ‘towering veteran’

Geingob lost his battle with cancer in the early hours of Sunday morning and passed away at the age of 82.

Recently, Geingob supported South Africa's complaint against Israel under the Genocide Convention and condemned Namibia's former colonial ruler, Germany, for opposing the case.

Serving his second term as president, he revealed last month that he was being treated for cancer.

Former vice-president Nangolo Mbumba was inaugurated as Geingob's successor as president on Sunday, along with new vice-president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The pair will serve until the presidential and national assembly elections towards the end of the year.

“Today, South Africa joins the people of our sister state, Namibia, in mourning the passing of a leader, patriot and friend of South Africa,” Ramaphosa said on Sunday.

“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.

“During the visit, we committed our two countries to an 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.”

Ramaphosa described Geingob as 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.

“We are therefore filled with appreciation and sadness at the passing of a comrade in struggle and a close partner in our democratic dispensation.”

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