By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of minerals and resources Gwede Mantashe has been designated as Acting President of South Africa from 18 to 22 May 2025, in accordance with Section 90(1)(b) of the Constitution.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile are undertaking simultaneous working visits to the US and France respectively.
Ramaphosa left on Monday, for his trip to the US, where he is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump, to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest.
The trip comes after the US administration welcomed 59 white South Africans, as the first batch of Afrikaners to be granted “refugee status” by Donald Trump, supported by the belief that they had been persecuted and amid claims of genocide.
Mashatile’s visit to France, is aimed at strengthening relations between the two countries and aims to mobilise investments.
Mashatile is accompanied by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi; Small Business Development MinisterStella Ndabeni-Abrahams; Transport Minister Barbara Creecy; Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie; Tourism MinisterPatricia de Lille; International Relations and Cooperation Deputy MinisterAlvin Botes; Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Buti Manamela; Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi and Electricity and Energy Minister Samantha Graham-Mare.
Mantashe represented Ramaphosa at the Freedom Day national celebration in Ermelo, Mpumalanga on April 27 for three hours, after he was advised to rest after suffering cold.