South Sudan FVP, Taban Deng Meets South African Deputy President Ramaphosa

By Jok P Mayom

JUBA, 14 September 2016 [Gurtong]-Speaking after their meeting, Ramaphosa said, “We invited the Vice President Taban Deng and his delegation to come, so that we can be briefed about what has been happening in South Sudan. He (Taban) has given us a detailed briefing about the developments in South Sudan.” said Ramaphosa.

“We congratulated First Vice-President Taban Deng for his appointment as First Vice-President replacing Dr Riek Machar who has now fled South Sudan.  We took note of his briefing in relation to how they are doing everything they can, to consolidate the peace in South Sudan” said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa confirmed that South Sudan is now calm and that the government is working towards development of the country.

“We’ve had really good discussions and we are now confident that peace will finally be entrenched in South Sudan and they will now be moving to the development plane and were very pleased to hear about their determination to ensure that peace does reign in South Sudan.”

He also said that a taskforce will be set up between the offices of the first vice president of South Sudan and his office to work on matters of mutual interest which will be decided on at both government levels.

Meanwhile, Taban Deng told the press that South Sudan is relying on South Africa to cement the peace deal in South Sudan.

Taban said, “We came here to ask for solidarity. As an elder brother, South Africa of course is one of the giants of Africa. We are relying on South African people to participate in cementing peace and developing the nation, moving forward”.

“Yes we are very serious in implementing peace there is no going back to any crisis or war.  But people don’t eat peace in the first place, what they eat is the dividends that follow peace. Those dividends are roads, schools and health services” Taban said.