South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sadness at the recent death of the country’s ambassador to Senegal, Lenin Magigwane Shope.
Shope reportedly died after an undisclosed illness in Dakar, local media reported on Sunday.
Ramaphosa offered his condolences to Shope’s mother, Gertrude, a former South African trade unionist who spent many years in exile and became president of the ANC Women’s League.
“Ambassador Shope passed away at his official residence in Dakar, Senegal, earlier this week,” the presidency said in a statement.
“President Ramaphosa’s thoughts are also with ambassador Shope’s siblings, Ms Lyndall Shope-Mafole and South African ambassador to Cuba Ms. Thaninga Shope-Linney.”
Shope, 63, had represented South Africa in several countries, including Cuba, Botswana, Italy and Australia. He studied in Cuba in the 1970s and 1980s.
“Our country and one of our distinguished revolutionary families have lost a son who dedicated himself to attaining our freedom and establishing and deepening the democratic South Africa’s relations with our global partners,” the statement added.