New Delhi, Sept. 18 -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to stay away from public events after being advised to rest by his medical team triggered rumours of several leaders being affected by their presence at the Brics Summit - a development swiftly dismissed by the external affairs ministry. A statement issued on Wednesday by South Africa's Presidency said that Ramaphosa will stay away from public engagements "due to ill health". Ramaphosa, 73, who returned to South Africa from the Brics Summit in New Delhi on Monday, has been advised by his medical team to "rest and recover", the statement said. Ramaphosa has asked ministers to represent him at public engagements, the statement said without giving details of his ailment. South Africa's deputy president Paul Mashatile, too, has not been seen in public since July as he is recovering after a minor medical procedure. The South African statement, coming on the heels of rumours triggered by Chinese President Xi Jinping skipping the dinner for Brics leaders on September 12, led to some reports and social media posts about world leaders being affected by their presence at the meet. The external affairs ministry's fact-checking handle on social media dismissed these reports in a post: "Fake Alert!!! We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms!"...