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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has tested positive for COVID-19 and is receiving treatment for mild symptoms, his office said.

Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated, began feeling unwell after leaving a state memorial service for former President F W de Klerk in Cape Town on Sunday, it said.

The 69-year-old leader is now self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service, it said.

He has delegated all responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week.

The presidency did not say whether Ramaphosa had been infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

The highly mutated variant, which was first detected in South Africa last month, has sparked global panic over fears that it is more contagious than other strains of the coronavirus.