Minister Angie Motshekga
By Karabo Marifi
Minister of Defence and Military Veterans Angie Motshekga has been appointed Acting President of the Republic of South Africa from 17 to 19 June 2025, as both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile undertake high-level international working visits to Canada and Russia respectively.
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🇿🇦 Motshekga Steps In as Acting President
The Presidency confirmed in an official statement that Minister Motshekga is serving as acting head of state during this period, highlighting the government’s adherence to constitutional procedures in the temporary delegation of presidential duties.
This is not the first time Motshekga has taken on the role of Acting President. She previously held this responsibility in August 2024, as well as in 2021 and 2019, making her one of the few women in South Africa’s democratic era to act as president multiple times.
Motshekga’s appointment reflects her seniority and trust within the executive, especially at a time when both the President and Deputy President are abroad attending to global and strategic diplomatic affairs.
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🌍 Ramaphosa Engages at G7 Leaders’ Outreach Summit in Canada
President Cyril Ramaphosa is currently in Kananaskis, Canada, where he is participating in the G7 Leaders’ Outreach Summit. The Group of Seven (G7) consists of the world’s most advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the European Union also taking part, although not a formal member.
According to the Presidency, President Ramaphosa’s participation in the Outreach Sessions underscores South Africa’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy and global collaboration.
“The Outreach Sessions of the G7, in which President Ramaphosa will participate, have been a feature of the Group over the years, with the aim to strengthen unity among G7 members and like-minded countries to deliberate on and address some of the world’s most pressing issues,” the Presidency said.
During the summit, President Ramaphosa is scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings, including with French President Emmanuel Macron, with whom he has developed a strong working relationship focused on climate financing, sustainable development, and peacebuilding in Africa.
The President is expected to champion African positions on global health, climate change, economic development, debt relief, and the reform of global financial institutions.
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🤝 Paul Mashatile on Strategic Economic Mission to Russia
While President Ramaphosa engages with world leaders in Canada, Deputy President Paul Mashatile is undertaking a working visit to the Russian Federation. His mission is aimed at enhancing South Africa-Russia bilateral ties, with a particular focus on trade, investment, and scientific collaboration.
The Presidency stated that Mashatile’s engagements will centre on:
• Strengthening economic cooperation in agriculture, automotive manufacturing, energy, and the mining sector.
• Advancing science and technology exchange between South Africa and Russia.
• Exploring opportunities for deeper cooperation in education, infrastructure development, and defence industry innovation.
Mashatile’s visit is part of South Africa’s broader strategy to maintain balanced diplomatic relations within a multipolar world and aligns with Pretoria’s BRICS policy commitments.
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⚖️ The Constitution and Temporary Presidential Powers
According to Section 90 of the Constitution, when both the President and Deputy President are unable to perform their duties, the President may designate a Cabinet Minister to act in the role. The selection is usually based on seniority, experience, and current strategic responsibilities.
In this instance, Minister Angie Motshekga, a long-standing Cabinet member and current Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, has been entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the functions of the presidency for the three-day period.
Motshekga’s appointment also comes amid heightened global security concerns, which makes her dual role as Defence Minister and Acting President especially pertinent.
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🌐 South Africa’s Global Posture: Diplomacy, Neutrality, and Trade
This simultaneous diplomatic engagement—with one leader in North America and the other in Eastern Europe—reflects South Africa’s foreign policy emphasis on non-alignment, strategic autonomy, and economic pragmatism.
• With the G7, South Africa maintains critical partnerships on infrastructure investment, green energy, COVID-19 pandemic recovery, and peace and security in Africa.
• With Russia, the government aims to deepen economic integration within BRICS and diversify trade routes and investments in strategic sectors.
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💬 Public Reactions and Political Significance
The appointment of Motshekga as Acting President has drawn interest from political observers and civil society, particularly because she is one of only a handful of women to have formally held the role, even temporarily.
Political analysts note that this moment highlights the growing gender diversity within the executive and may bolster ongoing efforts to increase women’s representation in leadership.
Others have praised the continuity of governance, pointing out that Motshekga’s prior experience ensures stability while both Ramaphosa and Mashatile attend to critical foreign policy matters.
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🔍 The Role of Acting President: What It Means
As Acting President, Motshekga’s responsibilities include:
• Chairing Cabinet meetings, if necessary.
• Receiving security briefings and national intelligence updates.
• Signing off on legislative matters, emergency declarations, or policy directives, if required.
• Representing the country in official capacities within the domestic sphere.
Although the role is temporary, it ensures that executive authority is not disrupted during the President’s absence.
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🛡️ Motshekga’s Portfolio in Defence and Security
Appointed as Minister of Defence and Military Veterans in 2024, Motshekga has led efforts to:
• Modernise the South African National Defence Force (SANDF).
• Address backlogs in military pensions and veterans’ services.
• Advance the SANDF’s peacekeeping missions in Africa, particularly under the SADC mandate.
• Strengthen cyber-defence and counter-terrorism capacity building.
Her portfolio places her at the centre of national security architecture, providing the executive experience and insight required for the role of Acting President.
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