President Cyril Ramaphosa received an honorary doctorate at Universiti Malaya. Photo: MDN News shared via X @MDNnewss.
(The Post News)– South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has been conferred an honorary doctorate in international relations by the prestigious Universiti Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The honor was bestowed on Monday, October 27, 2025, during his working visit to Southeast Asia. President Ramaphosa’s recognition is particularly significant, as he is only the second South African leader to receive this distinction from the university, following the late former president Nelson Mandela, who was honored in 1990.
The conferral ceremony was presided over by the Chancellor of the university, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah, and attended by dignitaries including Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Recognition of National Struggle and Diplomacy
In his acceptance speech, Ramaphosa highlighted that the accolade was not a personal achievement but a tribute to South African people as a whole. He emphasized that the honor reflects the collective achievements of South African people in their pursuit of democracy and justice. “While it is conferred in the name of an individual, this honor recognizes the achievements of an entire nation,” Ramaphosa stated.
“It recognizes the struggle of the South African people for democracy and freedom. It acknowledges the progress we have made in building a new society founded on the principles of equality, justice, and solidarity,” he said.
Deepening South-South Solidarity
Moreover, the conferment took place during a special convocation ceremony, where Ramaphosa also delivered a public lecture titled ‘South–South Diplomacy in the 21st Century: Malaysia and South Africa.’
He emphasized the deep, historic connections between the two nations, tracing the roots of their relationship back to the arrival of Malay-Indonesian exiles and scholars at the Cape centuries ago, who established lasting legacies of social justice and spiritual instruction. “It is a source of great pride to us that the ties between Malaysia and South Africa have endured… Our shared history may not have been of our making, but it has evolved into a principled solidarity,” he stated, further thanking Malaysia for its enduring support during the anti-apartheid struggle.
About the Author
