13 Dec 2021

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa tests positive for Covid-19

1:36 pm on 13 December 2021

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for Covid-19.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks during former South African President FW de Klerk's state memorial service at the Groote Kerk church in Cape Town on December 12, 2021.

Cyril Ramaphosa speaks during former South African President FW de Klerk's state memorial service in Cape Town on 12 December. Photo: AFP

The 69-year-old is fully vaccinated and showing only minor symptoms, the presidency said.

"The President started feeling unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honour of former Deputy President FW de Klerk in Cape Town earlier today," the statement added.

At the memorial service, a mask-wearing Ramaphosa gave a eulogy to the last leader of South Africa's white minority government, who helped negotiate an end it.

"The President, who is fully vaccinated, is in self-isolation in Cape Town and has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week," the presidency added.

In the past few days, a nationwide outbreak believed to be linked to the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus has been infecting around 20,000 people a day.

South African scientists see no sign that the variant causes more severe illness.

- Reuters

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