South African President Suspends Public Engagements Over Ill Health

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended public engagements after his medical team advised him to rest and recover from an undisclosed illness.

President Ramaphosa returned to South Africa on Monday after attending the BRICS Leaders’ Summit in India.

The presidency said 73 years Ramaphosa had asked cabinet ministers to represent him at scheduled public events where possible, but did not specify how long he would remain away from public engagements.

South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, is also resting on the advice of his doctors following a medical procedure.

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Meanwhile, the South African Briadcasting Corporation reported that Foreign Affairs Minister, Ronald Lamola will lead the country’s delegation to this year’s United Nations General Assembly in New York in Ramaphosa’s absence.

Lamola’s participation comes amid renewed diplomatic tensions between South Africa and the United States following Washington’s imposition of visa restrictions on some South Africans over allegations of race-based discrimination.

The U.S. administration under President Donald Trump has alleged that South Africa’s white Afrikaner minority is being persecuted.

The South African government has rejected the allegation, saying there is no evidence of discrimination against whites and defending its policies as efforts to address the legacy of centuries of racial injustice.