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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has temporarily withdrawn from public engagements after returning from the BRICS leaders’ summit in India, with the Presidency saying he has been advised by his medical team to rest and recover.
The Presidency announced the development on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, without disclosing the nature or severity of the health problem affecting the 73-year-old president.
According to the official statement, Ramaphosa returned to South Africa on Monday following his attendance at the 18th BRICS leaders’ summit in New Delhi and was subsequently advised by his doctors to take a break from public engagements. Project reports
This means Ramaphosa will temporarily withdraw from planned public activities, although there is no indication that he has transferred his presidential powers or that the government has been affected in its day-to-day operations.
Ministers represent the president at engagements
The Presidency said Ramaphosa has asked relevant ministers to represent him in scheduled engagements, where possible, during his recovery period.
“Wherever possible, the President has asked their respective ministers to represent him in scheduled engagements,” the Presidency said in its note.
The announcement was carefully limited to the president’s public schedule, without releasing additional medical information.
The Presidency has previously underlined the importance of relying on official information regarding the health of senior government officials rather than speculation or unverified reports.
Ramaphosa had maintained an active international and domestic agenda in the days leading up to the announcement.
Returning from the BRICS summit in India
The South African president was among the leaders who attended the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi from September 12-13.
The summit brought together leaders of the enlarged BRICS group, with discussions covering global governance, economic cooperation, inclusive growth and developments in the Middle East.
Ramaphosa attended several sessions during the summit, including discussions on inclusive global governance, multilateralism and inclusive global growth. Official documents from the Presidency show that he made statements during the summit on 12 and 13 September.
The summit also produced a joint statement addressing international issues, including the situation in the Middle East and broader issues regarding global economic and political cooperation.
Ramaphosa returned to South Africa on Monday before he was advised to rest and recover.
The vice president is also recovering
Ramaphosa’s temporary withdrawal from public engagements comes at a time when his deputy, Paul Mashatile, is also recovering from medical surgery.
Mashatile revealed on Tuesday that his recovery was progressing well and that he was regaining strength every day.
The vice president said he has undergone a minor medical procedure and that, on the advice of his doctors, he will continue to rest until he is advised to resume his full schedule.
He further said that work and delegated responsibilities continued through his office, relevant government and other stakeholders.
The vice president’s office had previously explained that Mashatile had felt ill at his home in Johannesburg, subsequently received medical treatment and was admitted for minor surgery and observation before being discharged.
His office said he remained in contact with his team and continued to attend some important meetings virtually.
The presidency maintains normal government operations
Although both of South Africa’s highest executive officials are temporarily away from some public engagements, the Presidency has given no indication of any disruption to the functioning of government.
Ramaphosa’s latest announcement concerns his participation in public engagements, while ministers have been asked to represent him at scheduled events where necessary.
The president had also continued to conduct official business shortly before the announcement.
On 16 September, the presidency announced that Ramaphosa had signed the Public Service Commission bill into law. The legislation strengthens the role of the Public Service Commission in promoting constitutional values and professional ethics within the public service.
The Presidency also listed several recent commitments and statements by Ramaphosa, including his declaration of 4 November 2026, as a public holiday for South Africa’s local government elections.
Health details remain private
No medical diagnoses have been released regarding Ramaphosa’s condition.
The presidency statement did not indicate whether the president had been hospitalized, nor did it provide a timetable for his return to public duties.
The limited information means that news or claims about the specific nature of his illness cannot be established independently of the official statement.
The development, however, has attracted attention due to its timing, coming shortly after the president’s return from an international summit and amid the vice president’s ongoing convalescence.
Focus on recovery
For now, Ramaphosa’s immediate schedule is expected to be modified while he follows medical advice.
The Presidency has indicated that ministers will represent him in engagements where possible, allowing planned government activities to continue in his absence.
The president’s decision to withdraw from public engagements also reflects the official position that he should rest and recover following medical advice.
Meanwhile, Mashatile’s office continued to report on the progress of his recovery, with the vice president expressing appreciation to South Africans and others who sent messages of support.
Both developments have placed renewed focus on the health and workload of South Africa’s senior political leaders, although official statements have provided limited medical details.
For Ramaphosa, the presidency did not raise any alarm, simply announcing that he was suspended from public commitments and advised to rest.
It is expected that further information on his return to official public activities will come from the Presidency, when appropriate.
