South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has temporarily withdrawn from public engagements after returning from the 2026 BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India.

The South African Presidency announced on Wednesday that Ramaphosa had been booked off from public engagements due to ill health and had been advised by his medical team to rest and recover.

The Presidency said the President returned to South Africa on Monday following his participation in the BRICS Summit, after which his doctors recommended that he take time away from his public schedule.

“Due to ill health, President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently booked off from public engagements,” the Presidency said in a statement.

The statement, however, did not disclose the nature of the illness or indicate how long the President would remain away from public engagements.

The Presidency said ministers would represent Ramaphosa at scheduled engagements where necessary during his period of recovery.

Ramaphosa's temporary withdrawal comes shortly after his participation in the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, where leaders discussed issues relating to global economic cooperation and international affairs.

The development also comes as South Africa's Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, continues to recover from a recent medical procedure. Mashatile said on Tuesday that his recovery was progressing well.

The Presidency has not announced any transfer of presidential powers or suggested that Ramaphosa is stepping down from office.

For now, the President is expected to focus on his recovery while members of his Cabinet continue to represent him at official engagements.

The Presidency is yet to announce a specific date for Ramaphosa's return to public duties.