South African Defence Minister Angie Motshekga has assumed the role of acting president, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s departure for official visits to Europe and the temporary absence of his deputy, Paul Mashatile.

The Presidency announced the development on Wednesday, explaining that the appointment complies with Section 90(1) of South Africa’s 1996 Constitution, which permits the delegation of presidential powers when both the president and deputy are unavailable.

President Ramaphosa left for Ireland on Wednesday as part of a working visit. Ireland is among the invited nations to the G20 bloc, currently chaired by South Africa, alongside countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Norway, the Netherlands, Spain, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.

He is also expected to attend the Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, Belgium, later this week.

Deputy President Mashatile, on the other hand, is away in South Sudan, where he is representing South Africa as a presidential envoy in peace talks. Earlier in the week, he participated in the Invest in Senegal Forum held in Dakar.

With both top leaders on international assignments, Motshekga has been authorized to perform presidential duties until their return, ensuring continuity in government operations.

The move drew attention to South Africa’s adherence to constitutional order, contrasting with a similar situation in Nigeria last year when both President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima were abroad at the same time.

Tinubu had embarked on a two-week private trip to the United Kingdom, while Shettima travelled to Sweden on official duty — sparking domestic criticism over their concurrent absence. The Nigerian presidency, however, maintained that the constitution did not require either leader’s physical presence to exercise their authority.