Positive For COVID-19 After Attending State Memorial Service, South African President Has Been Vaccinated And Is In Isolation

President Afrika Selatan Cyril Ramaphosa. (Wikimedia Commons/Palácio do Planalto)

JAKARTA - South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, 69, tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, despite having been vaccinated, after attending official activities and showing mild symptoms.

"The president is starting to feel unwell after leaving the State Memorial Service in honor of former Vice President FW de Klerk in Cape Town today," the South African presidency said, citing Reuters December 13.

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

Frederik Willem de Klerk, who is credited with overseeing the peaceful transition from a white minority government in South Africa to a black majority government led by Nelson Mandela, died last month at the age of 85 after battling cancer.

"In taking such a bold step, FW de Klerk is against many in his own party, and against many white South Africans," President Ramaphosa said at a state memorial service for the former leader.

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

To note, in recent days, a national outbreak believed to be linked to the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus has infected about 20,000 people per day. South African scientists saw no sign that the variant caused more severe disease.

After some deliberation, de Klerk's funeral was held behind closed doors last month. Giving a state funeral to former apartheid rulers, even those who have negotiated ending it, could spark protests. However, the government still declared four days of national mourning, with a state memorial service.