Cyril Ramaphosa

Ramaphosa's announcement of his new, multi-party Cabinet came a month after the ANC lost its 30-year political dominance of Africa's most industrialized country in a national election, forcing it to seek coalition partners.

Ramaphosa got 283 votes versus 44 for Julius Malema, the leader of the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters party.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa claims vindication as the International Court of Justice addresses Israel's Gaza military offensive, stopping short of a ceasefire order.

The allegations were first made in May by US Ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety during a media briefing at the US Embassy in Pretoria.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa invited the PM for the BRICS Summit being hosted by South Africa on August 22-24.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa during a meeting on Thursday.

Anand Mahindra was amused by the South African video clip and wished that Indian TV was this interesting.

Earlier, the South African President's office announced that Ramphosa has been tested positive for the COVID-19 with mild symptoms. Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for mild COVID-19 symptoms after testing positive on Sunday, the office of the presidency said in a statement, reported CNN.

President Ramaphosa contracted COVID-19 infection on a day when the country recorded a new high of 37,875 new infections overnight, dramatically up from the previous day’s 17,154 new cases.

The President said the number of daily infections has increased five-fold in the past week, with nearly a quarter of all COVID-19 tests now returning positive. Two weeks ago, only two per cent of tests were positive.

India on Wednesday overwhelmingly won the election to the Security Council for a non-permanent seat. Along with India, Norway, Ireland and Mexico will join the Security Council as the non-permanent members for a two-year term beginning January 1, 2021.

The country is under a nationwide lockdown since March 27. The strict measures in place have caused extreme economic crises, including huge job losses, and business closures.

In a letter to the Joint Standing Committee on defence in Parliament, Ramaphosa authorised the deployment of the entire South African National Defence Force (SANDF), including the auxiliary force and reserve force, for an additional 73,180 members of the SANDF to patrol South Africa's streets.

The prime minister also discussed the global health crisis with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Ramaphosa, 66, swore allegiance to the Constitution in the presence of thousands of dignitaries and citizens at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in the capital, Pretoria - after being voted unopposed in a process overseen by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng as the country's leader in the National Assembly this week.

In his media statement, Modi said both sides discussed all aspects of the bilateral ties with an aim to further expand cooperation in diverse areas.

Generally, chief guests of the parade are heads of states of countries that are strategically important to India, or heads of neighbouring countries

"PM Narendra Modi welcomed by the host of the evening South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the eve of the 10th BRICS Summit beginning tomorrow," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

Born in Soweto, Johannesburg, Ramaphosa took the political plunge in his student days.

Zuma, 75, last night stepped down after he was ordered by the ANC's national leadership to quit or face a no confidence emotion in Parliament.