Story perspectives

Ramaphosa Booked Off Engagements; Lamola Leads UN Delegation

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 11:59 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Ramaphosa Pauses Duties

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been booked off public engagements because of ill health.
He returned Monday after attending the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, India.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola will lead South Africa’s UN General Assembly delegation in Ramaphosa’s absence.
Ramaphosa said over a fifth of South Africa’s trade is with BRICS members.
He cited access to a $100 billion BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement pool for liquidity crises.

Summary

Ramaphosa Retains Control

President Cyril Ramaphosa has not appointed an acting president despite Section 90(1)(b) allowing it.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s medical leave fuels concerns about a governance ‘autopilot’ scenario.
The Presidency asserts Ramaphosa stays fully in charge while senior ministers handle delegated engagements.
Officials say the president’s office will keep operating under a ‘capable team’ handling delegated duties.

History

Historical Context

South Africa officially entered BRICS on 24 December 2010, joining Brazil, Russia, India and China and later gaining access to the $100 billion Contingent Reserve Arrangement created at the 2013 Durban summit and overseen by the New Development Bank. President Cyril Ramaphosa now cites that pool while assigning duties to Minister Ronald Lamola and Deputy President Paul Mashatile during his health leave.

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Ramaphosa Pauses Duties

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been booked off public engagements because of ill health.
He returned Monday after attending the 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi, India.
Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola will lead South Africa’s UN General Assembly delegation in Ramaphosa’s absence.
Ramaphosa said over a fifth of South Africa’s trade is with BRICS members.
He cited access to a $100 billion BRICS Contingent Reserve Arrangement pool for liquidity crises.

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