Enoch Godongwana Steps In as Acting President While Ramaphosa Embarks on Asia Tour

South Africa has a new man at the helm, at least for a week. As President Cyril Ramaphosa jets off on a multi-country working visit across Southeast Asia, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has been officially appointed as Acting President of South Africa from 21 to 27 October 2025.

It’s a temporary but significant appointment, marking one of the few times in recent years that the country’s economic chief has taken charge of the Union Buildings.

President @CyrilRamaphosa arriving at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta,Indonesia on a State Visit at the invitation of President Prabowo Subianto. Vid: GCIS

The purpose of the visit is to strengthen bilateral relations between our two countries. @TheCitizen_News pic.twitter.com/2Q7BrI1fgL

𝙵𝚊𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚕 𝙿𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚕 ⚡️ (@FaizelPatel143) October 22, 2025

A Presidential Trip Across Southeast Asia

Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed the appointment and outlined the president’s busy diplomatic itinerary, which includes Indonesia, Vietnam, and Malaysia, followed by a state visit to Switzerland later in the month.

“Deputy President Paul Mashatile will be on leave during this period,” Magwenya explained, adding that Ramaphosa’s mission is to deepen South Africa’s ties with some of the fastest-growing economies in Asia a region increasingly central to global trade and geopolitics.

Ramaphosa’s Southeast Asia tour is expected to strengthen cooperation in agriculture, tourism, defence, and trade, while also attracting new investment opportunities. These visits come at a pivotal moment as South Africa prepares to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg in November.

Strengthening the South–East Connection

Ramaphosa’s first stop was Jakarta, Indonesia, where he was welcomed by President Prabowo Subianto at the Merdeka Presidential Palace. The two leaders are set to discuss strategies to diversify trade relations, expand agricultural cooperation, and promote investment between their countries.

The visit will include a South Africa–Indonesia Business Forum, connecting business leaders from both nations. Indonesia remains South Africa’s third-largest trading partner in Southeast Asia, and both countries share a long history of solidarity that predates formal diplomatic ties.

That connection stretches back over 350 years, to when people of Indonesian descent first arrived at the Cape. More notably, Indonesia was among the earliest nations to speak out against apartheid, offering moral and political support to the liberation movement, a bond Ramaphosa hopes to reinvigorate in the modern trade era.

A Trusted Hand at the Helm

While Ramaphosa works on foreign diplomacy, Godongwana’s appointment signals confidence in his leadership and steady hand at home. Known for his pragmatic approach to economics and his work in stabilising South Africa’s fiscal outlook, the finance minister’s temporary promotion has sparked public interest and mild humour online.

On X (formerly Twitter), users reacted with mixed emotions. One user wrote, “Let’s hope the rand behaves under Acting President Godongwana,” while another quipped, “We trust the finance guy to keep the lights on, literally and fiscally.”

Behind the jokes, though, there’s recognition of Godongwana’s growing political stature. Since taking over the finance portfolio in 2021, he has become one of Ramaphosa’s most trusted allies, balancing the books in tough economic times and steering through sensitive issues like state-owned enterprise reform and public wage negotiations.

Ramaphosa’s Broader Vision

The president’s latest diplomatic tour also underscores South Africa’s pivot towards Asia, an effort to deepen engagement with emerging markets and reposition the country as a key player in South–South cooperation.

Ramaphosa’s participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Malaysia will allow him to promote South Africa’s investment potential while cementing new trade partnerships ahead of his G20 chairmanship next month.

For Ramaphosa, the trip is as much about economics as it is about global visibility. Strengthening ties with Asian partners could open doors for new investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and green energy, sectors vital to South Africa’s post-pandemic recovery and energy transition plans.

A Brief but Symbolic Moment

As Godongwana assumes his temporary presidential duties, his role will largely be to ensure stability at home while Ramaphosa builds bridges abroad. Still, the appointment is symbolically powerful, a reminder of the continuity of leadership within the administration, and of Ramaphosa’s trust in his inner circle.

For South Africans watching from home, the next few days will likely pass without major political drama. But on the global stage, Ramaphosa’s Asia tour could shape the country’s economic partnerships for years to come, all while Acting President Godongwana keeps the seat warm in Pretoria.

{Source: The Citizen}

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