The president of the country, Cyril Ramaphosa, told local media on the sidelines of an energy conference in Cape Town, that he would agree to mediate in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“South Africa is always ready to play a contributing role, either in mediation or whatever. And if a gap opens or if we are asked, we always live up to our obligations,” the South African president stated, referencing the Israel/Iran war.
As seen on Reuters, the South African president also mentioned that bringing about a ceasefire would be his first point of action.
“If the opportunity were to open, we would talk and say: there must be a ceasefire. Dialogue is always the best way of ending conflict and then ending the war. And we want this war to come to an end immediately,” he added.
Last year, Cyril Rampahosa was very proactive in his attempt to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia.
South Africa attempts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine
In August, 2025, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in quick succession.
Within 48 hours, each leader informed Ramaphosa of the ongoing crisis.
The back-to-back conversations highlighted the Southern African country’s delicate diplomatic balancing act while also reaffirming Ramaphosa’s commitment to presenting South Africa as a capable mediator in one of the most intractable issues of the modern era.
On August 7, President Ramaphosa conferred with Putin in response to the Russian leader’s offer to apprise him of the Ukrainian peace process and investigate areas of mutual interest.
Putin expressed appreciation and admiration for South Africa’s contribution to the advancement of peace negotiations, a significant compromise from a government that has frequently written off outside mediation as biased or pointless.
The South African president turned his attention to Kyiv the next day. According to a statement from the South African presidency, Ramaphosa spoke with Zelenskyy on the phone and was informed of Ukraine’s stance on the peace process.
The Ukrainian leader stressed Kyiv’s dedication to establishing lasting peace and commended South Africa for its continued assistance in seeking a peaceful solution.
He then announced publicly that he and the Russian president were “committed to working together towards a peaceful resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
The South African president talked with US President Donald Trump only hours before Zelenskyy visited him in Pretoria.
