South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has temporarily stepped back from public engagements after his medical team advised him to rest and recover.
The South African Presidency announced on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, that Ramaphosa had been booked off from public engagements due to ill health.
The Presidency did not disclose the nature or severity of his illness or state how long he would remain away from his public schedule.
Ramaphosa returned to South Africa on Monday after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, where he participated in discussions on global governance and multilateral cooperation.
During his absence, the President has asked relevant Cabinet ministers to represent him at scheduled engagements where possible.
The Presidency said further updates on his public programme would be provided as appropriate.
