South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has temporarily withdrawn from public engagements because of ill health and has been advised by his medical team to rest, his office said on Wednesday.
Ramaphosa, 73, returned to South Africa on Monday after attending the BRICS leaders’ summit in India. The presidency said doctors had recommended that he take time to rest and recover.
His office did not disclose the nature of the illness or say how long he was expected to remain away from public duties.
Where possible, Ramaphosa has asked cabinet ministers to represent him at scheduled engagements during his absence, according to the presidency.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is also currently resting on medical advice after undergoing what his office described as a minor medical procedure. Mashatile said on Tuesday that his recovery was progressing well but that doctors had advised him to continue resting until further notice.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola is expected to lead South Africa’s delegation to this year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York in Ramaphosa’s absence.
The trip comes amid renewed tensions between Pretoria and Washington following the Trump administration’s announcement of visa restrictions targeting some South African nationals over policies it says enable racial discrimination and uncompensated land seizures.
South Africa has rejected Washington’s characterisation of its policies, arguing that measures aimed at addressing historical racial inequalities do not amount to discrimination against the country’s white minority.
