Pretoria – President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep condolences at the passing of two outstanding young sportsmen, Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams and former South African Rugby Under-18 prop Luqobo Makwedini.
“President Ramaphosa offers his deep condolences to the families of Jayden Adams and Luqobo Makwedini who have passed away at the age of 25 and 20 respectively,” the Presidency said in a statement on Saturday, 11 July 2026.
“The President’s thoughts are with Jayden’s teammates in Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns, as well as Luqobo Makwedini’s former SA Under-18 teammates and his club colleagues in France.”
Jayden Adams, the 25-year-old Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, tragically passed away on Saturday, 11 July 2026, at his home in Cape Town.
Police have opened an inquest into his death, which is suspected to be suicide, though the exact circumstances remain under investigation.
Luqobo “Bibo” Makwedini, a 20-year-old former South Africa U18 rugby prop, tragically passed away on Friday, 10 July 2026, in France after collapsing during a training session with his club AS Béziers Hérault.
Reports indicate he suffered a cardiac arrest and died a few hours later in hospital.
President Ramaphosa said: “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.
“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.
“May their souls rest in peace.”
President Ramaphosa is currently on an Official Visit to France.
