Ramaphosa Withdraws From Public Duties After BRICS Summit as Health Rumours Spread

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been temporarily withdrawn from public engagements after falling ill following his return from the BRICS summit in India, prompting renewed attention online and a warning against unverified claims about the health of world leaders. The South African Presidency says Ramaphosa is resting on medical advice, but has not disclosed the nature or severity of his illness.

The 73-year-old president returned to South Africa on Monday after attending the BRICS summit in New Delhi, which brought together leaders of the expanded group of emerging economies. His office said his medical team had advised him to rest and recover, with ministers stepping in to represent him at scheduled public engagements where necessary.

Ramaphosa’s illness quickly became the subject of speculation on social media, with some posts suggesting that several leaders who attended the summit had fallen ill. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has rejected those wider claims as false, describing some of the circulating posts as malicious and urging the public not to be misled.

Importantly, there has been no official statement linking Ramaphosa’s illness to the BRICS summit. His office has only confirmed that he became unwell and was advised by his doctors to rest. Claims suggesting that the summit caused illness among participating leaders remain unverified.

The timing has nevertheless attracted attention because Ramaphosa’s absence comes shortly after the New Delhi summit, held from September 12 to 13. The meeting focused on issues including global governance, economic cooperation, international security and the position of emerging economies in the global system.

The summit’s declaration also criticised unilateral and protectionist trade measures and called for disputes to be addressed through dialogue and diplomacy. For South Africa, BRICS remains an important platform for strengthening relations with major emerging economies as Pretoria seeks a larger role in global economic and diplomatic affairs.

Ramaphosa’s temporary absence also comes as Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been recovering from a minor medical procedure, meaning both of South Africa’s top political leaders have recently been away from some public engagements. Mashatile has said government work and delegated responsibilities continue during his recovery.

For now, the South African Presidency has given no indication of a serious health crisis and has not announced how long Ramaphosa will remain away from public duties. His ministers are expected to represent him where necessary while he follows medical advice.

The episode has also highlighted how quickly unverified health claims involving political leaders can spread online. With official information limited to Ramaphosa’s withdrawal and recommendation to rest, further claims about his condition or the cause of his illness remain unconfirmed.