President Ramaphosa Pays Tribute to Jayden Adams and Luqobo Makwedini Following Tragic Deaths
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid an emotional tribute to late Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams and former South African Under-18 rugby prop Luqobo Makwedini following their untimely deaths.
In a statement released on Saturday, the President extended his condolences to the families of Adams, who passed away at the age of 25, and Makwedini, who died aged 20, describing their deaths as a heartbreaking loss for South African sport.
The nation has been mourning Adams’ passing, with tributes continuing to pour in from across the football fraternity following the death of one of the country’s brightest midfield talents. The 25-year-old represented both Bafana Bafana and Betway Premiership champions Mamelodi Sundowns, earning widespread admiration for his performances at club and international level.
Ramaphosa also remembered Makwedini, a former South African Under-18 rugby player who continued his career in France, acknowledging the impact both young athletes made during their promising careers.
The President said his thoughts were with Adams’ teammates in the Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns camps, as well as Makwedini’s former South African Under-18 teammates and his club colleagues in France.
“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,” President Ramaphosa said in a statement.
Paying tribute to the pair’s contribution to South African sport, the President added:
“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.”
He concluded his message by saying:
“May their souls rest in peace.”
The President’s message adds to the growing number of tributes from across the sporting world following Adams’ passing, with players, clubs, supporters and football stakeholders continuing to honour the gifted midfielder’s legacy.
President Ramaphosa Pays Tribute to Jayden Adams and Luqobo Makwedini Following Tragic Deaths (Image: SA Government)