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Johannesburg - Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will visit Lesotho on Thursday to brief the country's leaders on the establishment of a SADC-led Commission of Inquiry into the recent developments in the country, including the killing of former army general Maaparankoe Mahao, the Presidency said.
During a Double Troika Summit of Heads of State held in Pretoria earlier this month, it was decided that an independent commission needed to be held into the circumstances surrounding the death of the former Lesotho army commander, spokesperson Ronnie Mamoepa said.
"The commission, which will be chaired by Botswana Judge Mpaphi Phumaphi, is also expected to look into other related factors that may have contributed to incidents of instability in Lesotho."
According to reports, soldiers with AK-47 assault rifles stopped Mahao’s car while he was driving with two nephews, shot him, and dragged his bleeding body across the road before driving off with him on June 25.
Ramaphosa was expected to outline the terms of reference of the commission to King Letsie III, Prime Minister Phakalitha Mosisili and other affected parties.
Ramaphosa is the SADC facilitator on Lesotho.
His efforts to bring about peace and stability in the mountain kingdom have resulted in the reopening of parliament, the holding of democratic elections and the inauguration of a democratic government, Mamoepa said.
