Shinzo Abe Ramaphosa

People pay their respects in front of a makeshift memorial outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station, where former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot earlier in the day, in Nara on July 8, 2022. – Abe was pronounced dead on July 8, the hospital treating him confirmed, after he was shot at a campaign event in the city of Nara. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

Ramaphosa says Abe’s assassination is a call to work for ‘non-violence, peace and tolerance’

Former Japanese Prime Miniser, Shinzo Abe, died after being shot while delivering a speech on Friday morning.

Shinzo Abe Ramaphosa

People pay their respects in front of a makeshift memorial outside Yamato-Saidaiji Station, where former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe was shot earlier in the day, in Nara on July 8, 2022. – Abe was pronounced dead on July 8, the hospital treating him confirmed, after he was shot at a campaign event in the city of Nara. (Photo by Philip FONG / AFP)

The former Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, died on Friday, 8 July after he was shot at a political campaign event. President Cyril Ramaphosa said he learned with “sadness and shock” of the 67-year-old’s untimely passing.

SHINZO ABE ASSASSINATION SHOCKS RAMAPHOSA

Japanese national broadcaster NHK said Abe died in a hospital in Kashihara City, Nara on Friday. Before he was shot, Abe was delivering a speech. AFP reported that security surrounded him but spectators were able to approach him easily.

The incident was captured by broadcasters. Footage shows a man dressed in a grey shirt approaching the politician from behind before reaching into a bag and firing. The man was tackled to the ground and arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

A man (bottom) suspected of shooting former Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe is tackled to the ground by police at Yamato Saidaiji Station in the city of Nara on July 8, 2022. – Shinzo Abe was shot at a campaign event on July 8, a government spokesman said, as local media reported the nation’s longest-serving premier was showing no vital signs. (Photo by STR / Yomiuri Shimbun / AFP) /

“The violence that claimed Prime Minister Abe’s life is a call on all of us to work for non-violence, peace and tolerance in all parts of the globe,” said Ramaphosa.

The president offered condolences to Abe’s family and the government and people of Japan on behalf of South Africa.

Ramaphosa recalled a “close association” with Prime Minister Abe during his term as Deputy and President of South Africa.

“I had the honour of sharing a Yokohama International Stadium stand with Prime Minister Abe as we witnessed the Springboks triumph as world champions.

“His warm embrace and handshake at the final whistle embodied the relationship between our two countries,” said the president.

Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister. He occupied the office from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. He was a member of the Liberal Democratic Party.

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