Pretoria (HRNW)- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has temporarily withdrawn from public engagements due to ill health after returning from the BRICS summit in New Delhi, according to the South African presidency. His medical team has advised him to rest and recover.
The presidency said Ramaphosa, 73, returned to South Africa on Monday and asked cabinet ministers to represent him at scheduled public events wherever possible. No further details about his condition were released.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is also resting on medical advice following a recent medical procedure, according to South African media reports.
South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola is expected to lead the country’s delegation to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in Ramaphosa’s absence. Lamola is also due to travel to the United States amid diplomatic tensions between Washington and Pretoria over allegations concerning the treatment of white South Africans and recent US visa restrictions.
The Trump administration has accused South Africa of policies it says discriminate against white South Africans, while the South African government has rejected those allegations and defended its policies as efforts to address the legacy of apartheid and historical racial inequality.
Ramaphosa attended the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 12–13, where he participated in discussions on global governance and multilateral cooperation before returning home.
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