The MEA’s Fact‑Check Unit on X trailed a Polymarket post that paired a photo of Ramaphosa with the headline that multiple leaders had become sick after the summit, calling the claim "fake" and warning against malicious social media content.
Ramaphosa’s office confirmed his withdrawal from public engagements, citing medical advice that the 73‑year‑old president should rest after the event, and noted that Deputy President Paul Mashatile is recovering from a minor procedure.
A separate rumor surfaced from Wanjun Xie, chairman of the China Democracy Party, alleging that President Xi Jinping fainted during the summit and was flown back to China for emergency treatment, but no corroborating reports have emerged.
The summit, held on September 12‑13 in New Delhi, brought together 11 BRICS member heads and 10 partner leaders, culminating in the unanimous adoption of the New Delhi Declaration 2026 after back‑channel talks that bridged a divide between Iran and the UAE over the West Asia conflict.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi leveraged the event to conduct 15 bilateral meetings and pull‑aside talks with global leaders, reinforcing India's diplomatic engagement across the board.
With misinformation still circulating, the MEA reiterated its commitment to fact‑checking and will coordinate with media partners to counter false narratives ahead of the next major international gathering.