South Africa will see Minister Angie Motshekga take the reins as Acting President from 17 to 19 June 2025, with both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile scheduled for international engagements, Cape {town} Etc reports.
The Presidency confirmed the appointment under Section 90(1)(b) of the Constitution, which allows the president to designate an acting head of state during official absences. Ramaphosa is set to travel to Canada for the G7 Leadership Summit, while Mashatile is due in Moscow for a diplomatic working visit.
This isn’t new territory for Motshekga, who currently serves as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans. The seasoned political figure has held the acting presidency multiple times before, most recently in August 2024, as well as in 2021 and 2019.
Though her acting stints are brief, they’re historic. Motshekga continues to break ground as one of the few women in the country’s history to assume the role of head of state, even temporarily. Her leadership, especially during times when both the president and deputy are abroad, underscores her growing influence in South African politics.
Born in Soweto, Motshekga is well known for her previous long-standing tenure as Minister of Basic Education, where she played a pivotal role in shaping policy and handling the country’s education system through crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her move into the defence portfolio was seen as a strategic step, placing her at the helm of national security affairs during a time of growing domestic and global tensions.
This latest appointment comes at a time when South Africa’s international engagement is expanding, with Ramaphosa set to meet with global leaders at the G7, and Mashatile strengthening ties with Russia.
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