Presidency says president has been advised by his medical team to rest and recover after returning from BRICS Summit
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has temporarily withdrawn from public engagements after falling ill, the Presidency announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
The Presidency said Ramaphosa had been advised by his medical team to rest and recover following his return from the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, on Monday. It did not disclose the nature or severity of his illness.
According to the official statement, Ramaphosa will not participate in scheduled public engagements while he recovers.
“Due to ill health, President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently booked off from public engagements,” the Presidency said.
It added that, where possible, the president had asked the relevant ministers to represent him at scheduled engagements.
The announcement came shortly after Ramaphosa returned from India, where he participated in the BRICS leaders’ summit from September 11 to 13. Official Presidency records show that he attended several sessions during the summit before returning to South Africa.
The Presidency has not provided further information about Ramaphosa’s condition, including the specific illness affecting him or how long he is expected to remain away from public engagements.
Reuters also reported that no additional details about the nature or severity of his illness had been provided.
The development comes a day after Ramaphosa delivered a keynote address at the Africa Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town, although the address was delivered on his behalf by Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.
Ramaphosa’s announcement comes as Deputy President Paul Mashatile is also recovering from a recent medical procedure.
In a statement on September 15, Mashatile said he had undergone a minor medical procedure and would continue resting on the advice of his doctors while his responsibilities were handled by his office and other government stakeholders.
The South African Constitution provides for an Acting President when the president is absent from the country or otherwise unable to fulfil presidential duties. The Deputy President is first in the constitutional order to act as president in such circumstances.
However, the Presidency’s September 16 announcement does not state that Ramaphosa has been replaced by an Acting President. It says only that ministers will represent him at public engagements where necessary.