The veteran minister who keeps taking charge of SA as acting president
This latest stint means the minister has now assumed the acting presidency for the fifth confirmed time since 2019.
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Matsie Angelina “Angie” Motshekga, has been appointed the Acting President of the Republic of South Africa, effective from 8 October 2025.
Motshekga steps into the highest office due to the concurrent international engagements of both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Ramaphosa landed in Ireland on Wednesday, and will attend the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday.
Concurrently, Deputy President Mashatile is in Juba, South Sudan, fulfilling his role as Special Envoy to consult stakeholders on the peace process there.
This appointment follows Section 90(1)(b) of the Constitution, which provides for the designation of a minister to temporarily hold the position of head of state when both the president and deputy president are abroad or unable to serve. This latest stint means Motshekga has now assumed the acting presidency for the fifth confirmed time since 2019.
The continuity of governance is vital as South Africa maintains stable executive decision-making during high-level international diplomatic missions. During her tenure, Motshekga must maintain oversight of critical state functions while managing her portfolio as the Minister of Defence.
ANGIE MOTSHEKGA: ACTING PRESIDENT IN THE PAST
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), transitioned to the defence portfolio following the 2024 general election.