Godongwana appointed acting president as Ramaphosa embarks on international visits
Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has been appointed Acting President while President Cyril Ramaphosa travels abroad for a series of state visits to Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Switzerland.
Image: GCIS
President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana as Acting President while he undertakes a series of international visits.
According to the Presidency, Deputy President Paul Mashatile will be on leave during this period.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya confirmed the temporary appointment on Tuesday, stating it was made in view of the President’s upcoming visits abroad.
President Ramaphosa is traveling to Indonesia on October 21, 2025, for a working visit scheduled for October 22, 2025.
He will then proceed to Vietnam for a State Visit on October 23-24.
Following this, the President will be in Malaysia from 24 to 27 October for another State Visit, during which he will also participate in a Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Magwenya said the President’s travel plan would “advance South Africa’s bilateral relations with the respective host countries, particularly in trade and investment.”
He added that the visits would also “enable South Africa to strengthen cooperation with partner states in global forums, and contribute to the President’s preparations for his chairing of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg on 22 and 23 November 2025.”
After his engagements in Southeast Asia, Ramaphosa will undertake a State Visit to Switzerland from October 29-30, said Magwenya.
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