Cyril Ramaphosa

Cyril Ramaphosa
Name	Cyril Ramaphosa
Birth date	1952-11-17
Birth place	Johannesburg, Transvaal Province
Nationality	South African
Occupation	Politician, businessman, trade unionist, lawyer
Office	President of South Africa
Term start	2018
Party	African National Congress

Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African politician, trade unionist, and businessman who has served as President of South Africa and as a senior leader of the African National Congress. He rose from student activism in Soweto and labor organising in the Black Consciousness Movement era to national leadership during the transition from apartheid to constitutional democracy. His career spans roles in National Union of Mineworkers, negotiations at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, and corporate boards including Sasol and MTN Group.

Early life and education

Born in Johannesburg in 1952 to parents from Phokeng in the North West (South African province), he attended Sophiatown-area schools and became involved in student politics at Union Junior Secondary School and Palmerston Farm School. He studied at University of the North (Turfloop) where he was influenced by figures associated with Black Consciousness Movement and met contemporaries active in South African Students' Organisation. Later he qualified in law through the University of South Africa while working in labor organising and business, associating with lawyers linked to the Legal Resources Centre.

Business career and activism

He emerged as a prominent trade union organiser in the 1980s as general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), linking labour campaigns with anti-apartheid efforts led by the African National Congress and United Democratic Front. His negotiation skills featured during strikes and bargaining with employers such as Anglo American plc and state entities like Iscor. After the unbanning of the ANC he transitioned into business, taking non-executive and executive roles at corporations including MTN Group, Vodacom, Sasol, Lonmin, and SABMiller. He chaired the Shanduka Group and served on boards that connected him with investors linked to Black Economic Empowerment initiatives and the South African Reserve Bank-related financial sector.

Political rise and role in anti-apartheid movement

Active in anti-apartheid negotiation structures, he participated in forums such as the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (CODESA) and engaged with negotiators from Nelson Mandela's leadership and Thabo Mbeki-aligned figures. He worked alongside activists from Congress of South African Trade Unions and met international interlocutors from United Nations delegations and trade union federations in Britain and Sweden. His role bridged labour mobilisation during the 1987 mine workers' strike and formal talks that culminated in the 1994 general election and the Interim Constitution processes.

Deputy President of South Africa and ANC leadership

Elected as deputy president of the African National Congress at the 54th National Conference of the ANC and later appointed Deputy President of South Africa under Jacob Zuma, he worked on initiatives involving National Development Plan frameworks, engagement with World Bank and International Monetary Fund missions, and coordination with provincial administrations including Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. His ANC leadership intersected with internal factions linked to figures such as Kgalema Motlanthe, Baleka Mbete, Julius Malema, and Ace Magashule, positioning him as a consensus builder ahead of the presidential succession contest.

Presidency (policies and governance)

Assuming the presidency after a parliamentary motion in 2018, he pursued policies aimed at investment promotion, anti-corruption measures, and economic reforms endorsed by entities like the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and African Union. His administration engaged with multilateral partners including BRICS members, negotiated infrastructure projects with China-linked firms, and sought to strengthen ties with European Union delegations and United States investors. Domestically, his government worked on energy policy involving Eskom, agricultural land reform debates referencing the South African Constitution (1996), and labour relations with unions including the Congress of South African Trade Unions and National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa.

Controversies and legal challenges

His career has attracted scrutiny over business dealings, including disputes connected to investments by Shanduka Group partners and transactions involving firms such as Lonmin and Sasol. He has faced legal inquiries and media investigations concerning alleged links to the Gupta family and procurement controversies tied to state-owned enterprises like Transnet and South African Airways. Litigation and commission processes, including matters considered by courts in Pretoria and Johannesburg and parliamentary oversight committees, have examined conflicts of interest and compliance with Public Finance Management Act-related standards.

Personal life and honours

He is married and has family ties in the North West (South African province); his spouse and children have participated in public life linked to charitable initiatives and philanthropic partnerships with organisations such as Nelson Mandela Foundation and Desmond Tutu-affiliated projects. His honours include awards and honorary degrees from institutions such as University of Cape Town, University of Johannesburg, and foreign universities that have recognized statesmen like Kofi Annan and Gerald Ford-era figures. He has engaged in international forums including the World Economic Forum and received recognition in business circles similar to peers at Forbes-ranked gatherings.

Category:Presidents of South Africa Category:African National Congress politicians