Former US President passes away

Sunday, December 2, 2018

The thoughts of South Africans are with the American people following the passing on of former United States President, George Herbert Walker Bush .

The 41st President of the USA died at the age of 94.

In a statement issued by the Presidency on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said “the thoughts of the South African people are with the American people, and in particular the Bush family, who are mourning the demise of one of their leaders”.

President Bush committed himself to a life of public service and held a number of important positions in the United States Government, including as Vice President and later as the 41st President from 1989 to 1993.

He held positions during key periods of United States history, including as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations during the opening of relations with China and as President during the end of the Cold War. 

On 25 June 1990, then President Bush met with former President Nelson Mandela during Madiba’s first visit to the United States after his release from prison and committed the United States to the removal of apartheid and the introduction of a non-racial democracy in South Africa.

“President Cyril Ramaphosa has, on behalf of the Government and the people of South Africa, sent a message of condolences to the government and the people of the United States America,” said the statement. – SAnews.gov.za