President Cyril Ramaphosa has designated Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana as South Africa’s Acting President. This temporary transfer of power is effective from Tuesday, 21 October, until 27 October 2025....Click to Read More >>➤
The appointment was confirmed by the president’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya. He explained that the move was necessary due to President Ramaphosa’s consecutive international visits. Deputy President Paul Mashatile will be on leave during this period.
Ramaphosa’s extensive travel itinerary underscores South Africa’s commitment to strengthening global partnerships. His first stop is a Working Visit to Indonesia on 22 October. This will be immediately followed by a State Visit to Vietnam on 23 and 24 October.
The president will then proceed to Malaysia for a State Visit from 24 to 27 October. While there, he will also participate in a Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Following this Southeast Asian tour, Ramaphosa will undertake a State Visit to Switzerland from 29 to 30 October.
Strengthening Global Partnerships
According to Magwenya, these diplomatic missions are strategically vital. They are intended to advance South Africa’s bilateral relations, with a particular focus on boosting trade and investment. The engagements will also help solidify cooperation with partner nations in various global forums.
Furthermore, the visits will contribute to President Ramaphosa’s preparations for a significant upcoming event. He is scheduled to chair the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 November 2025. This high-level international engagement is a key priority for the nation’s diplomatic agenda.
Ramaphosa Commences Indonesia State Visit
President Ramaphosa arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta on Wednesday. His visit to Indonesia is at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto. The schedule includes an official Welcome Ceremony at the Merdeka Presidential Palace.
The two leaders will hold a private meeting, or tête-à-tête, before leading their respective ministerial delegations in official bilateral talks. Ramaphosa is expected to deliver opening remarks that highlight the strong relationship between the two countries. He will focus on strengthening cooperation in critical areas like trade, agriculture, tourism, and defence.
A key objective is to diversify trade between the nations in response to shifting global dynamics. Following the official talks, Presidents Ramaphosa and Subianto will hold a joint media briefing. The state visit was preceded by a South Africa-Indonesia Business Forum, emphasizing the commercial focus of the trip.
Deep-Rooted Bilateral Ties
Indonesia holds a significant position as South Africa’s third-largest trading partner in the Southeast Asia region. On the margins of the state visit, President Ramaphosa will connect with leading Indonesian business leaders. The goal is to actively expand trade and investment opportunities for both nations.
The relationship between South Africa and Indonesia is historically profound, dating back more than 350 years. The first people of Indonesian descent arrived in the Cape in the mid-1600s. In the modern era, Indonesia was a fierce critic of apartheid and a staunch supporter of the anti-apartheid struggle.
This solidarity began with the Bandung Conference of 1955. Formal diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1994. Today, both South Africa and Indonesia play leading roles in advancing South-South Cooperation and are fellow member states of the BRICS bloc. ...Click to Read More >>➤
