Ramaphosa Hands Over Power to Godongwana Ahead of High-Stakes Global Tour
SOUTH AFRICA – With Deputy President Paul Mashatile on leave, President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana as acting president from 21 to 27 October 2025.
The move comes as Ramaphosa embarks on a high-level diplomatic tour across Asia and Europe, aimed at strengthening South Africa’s global partnerships ahead of the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Godongwana’s appointment ensures continuity in executive leadership during the president’s absence.
It follows a recent instance where Defence and Military Veterans Minister Angie Motshekga briefly served as acting head of state while Ramaphosa attended the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Ramaphosa’s itinerary begins in Indonesia on 22 October for a working visit.
He will then travel to Vietnam from 23 to 24 October, followed by Malaysia between 24 and 27 October, where he is scheduled to participate in the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur.
His final stop will be Switzerland, where he will conduct a working visit from 29 to 30 October.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Presidency said Ramaphosa views these visits as critical to deepening bilateral relations and preparing for the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit.
“The president believes these engagements will strengthen ties between South Africa and its global partners,” said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
The G20 Summit will be held in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 November 2025, marking the first time the high-level gathering is hosted on African soil.
Ramaphosa’s international outreach is expected to lay the groundwork for key discussions ahead of the summit, with South Africa positioned to play a leading role in shaping global policy dialogue.
