Ramaphosa appoints ‘new’ acting president – and it’s not Angie Motshekga

President Cyril Ramaphosa is jetting off to South-East Asia on Wednesday, and while he is away, South Africa will have a fresh face acting as head of state, instead of regular stand-in Angie Motshekga.

Starting on 21 October 2025, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will be acting president until 27 October 2025.

“President Ramaphosa has made this appointment in view of consecutive international visits the President is undertaking in the coming days. Deputy President Shipokosa Paul Mashatile will be on leave during this period,” announced the Presidency on Tuesday afternoon.

Ramaphosa jets off to Indonesia on Wednesday, moving on to Vietnam and Malaysia, as part of “South Africa’s commitment to deepening strategic ties with this dynamic region”.

Between 25-28 October, Ramaphosa is due to attend the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Kuala Lumpur.

Immediately after the three-country sojourn, Ramaphosa will head to Switzerland from 29-30 October 2025 for another state visit.

Earlier in October, Motshekga held South Africa’s reins while Ramaphosa was in Ireland on Wednesday, and later Belgium. In the same period, Mashatile was in South Sudan.

ANGIE MOTSHEKGA: HISTORY AS SOUTH AFRICA ACTING PRESIDENT

Motshekga has served as acting president on the following occasions:

• June 2025: While President Ramaphosa visited Canada for the G7 Leadership Summit and Deputy President Mashatile undertook a working visit to Moscow, Russian Federation. This occasion marked her fourth stint in the role.
• October 2024: President Cyril Ramaphosa was on a working visit to the Kingdom of Lesotho. Deputy President Paul Mashatile was also on a working visit, to the United Kingdom and Ireland.
• August 2024: While President Ramaphosa attended the 44th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of SADC in Harare, Zimbabwe.
• July 2021: While President Ramaphosa visited Lusaka, Zambia, for the State Funeral Service of the late President Kenneth Kaunda, and Deputy President David Mabuza was receiving medical treatment in the Russian Federation.
• November 2019: President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President David Mabuza were both out of the country; Ramaphosa was in Lesotho while Mabuza was in China.

Motshekga, who was the longest-serving minister of Basic Education (2009–2024), is now defence minister following the 2024 general election.