Ramaphosa hails late Palestinian diplomat Leila Shahid

Staff Reporter

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said he was mourning the death of Leila Shahid, a Lebanese-born Palestinian diplomat and activist who became the first woman to serve as Palestine’s ambassador abroad.

Shahid died in France on Wednesday, aged 76.

ALSO READ: TETA board could not turn a blind eye on non compliance – TETA CEO Maphefo Anno Frempong

In a statement issued by the South African presidency, Ramaphosa said Shahid’s death was “a moment of sadness” for people around the world who remain in solidarity with Palestinians.

“The passing of Leila Shahid is a moment of sadness that ripples from the ruins of a brutalised Palestine to places all over the world where we remain resolute in our solidarity with the people of Palestine in their struggle for freedom,” Ramaphosa said.

He said Shahid had spent decades drawing international attention to the conflict and that “as an anthropologist,