President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences following the deaths of Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams and former South African Under-18 rugby player Luqobo Makwedini.
The two promising athletes died on Saturday in separate incidents.
Adams, 25, who represented Bafana Bafana during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, was found dead at his home in Cape Town.
Makwedini, 20, reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest during a training session with his French-based rugby club.
In a statement, President Ramaphosa described the deaths as a tragic loss for South African sport.
“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 Tshwane today,” the President said.
Ramaphosa thanked both athletes for the pride and joy they brought to South Africa through their achievements on the international stage.
“I am 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 said.
The President extended his deepest sympathies to the families, friends, teammates and supporters of both athletes, adding: “May their souls rest in peace.”
