The deputy president has taken over his responsibilities for the time being.

President Cyril Ramaphosa is in self-isolation at his home in Cape Town after testing positive for COVID-19 recently. The news was shared with the nation last night and comes amid the fourth wave of infections that is making its way through the country.

The president is fully vaccinated, but still contracted the virus. It is understood that Ramaphosa started feeling unwell on Sunday evening after leaving the state funeral service for late president FW De Klerk.

Ramaphosa returned from a week-long visit to West Africa on 8 December. During the visit, he campaigned against travel bans imposed against southern African nations after South African scientists announced their discovery of the Omicron variant of the virus.

“On his recent visit to four West African states, President Ramaphosa and the South African delegation were tested for Covid-19 in all countries,” said Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele.

The government has described Ramaphosa’s symptoms as “mild”. He is being carefully monitored by South African National Defence Force doctors. Apparently, Ramaphosa is in good spirits and well on his way to make a speedy recovery.

All powers and responsibilities associated with the head of state have been conferred on the deputy president, David Mbuza. It is expected that Mbuza will also address the nation this week as to the outcome of the long-awaited Coronavirus Command Council meeting, where analysts believe the country might be upgraded to a higher lockdown level.

Gungubele reminded the nation that vaccination remains the best way to combat COVID-19 and again urged South Africans to make their way to vaccination centres as the country heads for the festive season.