Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician serving as the fifth and current president of South Africa since 2018. A former anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader, and businessman, Ramaphosa is also the president (leader) of the African National Congress (ANC).
Cyril Ramaphosa GCB | |
|---|---|
Ramaphosa in 2022 | |
| 5th President of South Africa | |
| Assumed office 15 February 2018 | |
| Deputy |
|
| Preceded by | Jacob Zuma |
| 18th Chairperson of the African Union | |
| In office 10 February 2020 – 6 February 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Abdel Fattah el-Sisi |
| Succeeded by | Felix Tshisekedi |
| 14th President of the African National Congress | |
| Assumed office 18 December 2017 | |
| Deputy |
|
| Preceded by | Jacob Zuma |
| 7th Deputy President of South Africa | |
| In office 26 May 2014 – 15 February 2018 | |
| President | Jacob Zuma |
| Preceded by | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Succeeded by | David Mabuza |
| 9th Deputy President of the African National Congress | |
| In office 18 December 2012 – 18 December 2017 | |
| President | Jacob Zuma |
| Preceded by | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| Succeeded by | David Mabuza |
| 13th Secretary-General of the African National Congress | |
| In office 1 March 1991 – 18 December 1997 | |
| President | Nelson Mandela |
| Preceded by | Alfred Baphethuxolo Nzo |
| Succeeded by | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| 1st Secretary-General of the National Union of Mineworkers | |
| In office August 1982 – June 1991 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Kgalema Motlanthe |
| 1st Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga | |
| In office 2 April 2016 – 1 July 2021 | |
| Vice-Chancellor | Thoko Mayekiso |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Mandisa Maya |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa 17 November 1952 Soweto, Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa |
| Political party | African National Congress |
| Spouses | Hope Ramaphosa
(m. 1978; div. 1989)Nomazizi Mtshotshisa
(m. 1991; div. 1993)Tshepo Motsepe (m. 1996) |
| Children | 5 |
| Parent(s) | Samuel Ramaphosa Erdmuth Ramaphosa |
| Alma mater | University of Limpopo University of South Africa |
| Occupation |
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| Website | Foundation website Presidency website |
Ramaphosa rose to national prominence as secretary general of South Africa's biggest and most powerful trade union, the National Union of Mineworkers. In 1991, he was elected ANC secretary general under ANC president Nelson Mandela and became the ANC's chief negotiator during the negotiations that ended apartheid. He was elected chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly after the country's first fully democratic elections in 1994 and some observers believed that he was Mandela's preferred successor. However, Ramaphosa resigned from politics in 1996 and became well known as a businessman, including as an owner of McDonald's South Africa, chair of the board for MTN, member of the board for Lonmin, and founder of the Shanduka Group.
He returned to politics in December 2012 at the ANC's 53rd National Conference and served as the deputy president of South Africa under President Jacob Zuma from 2014 to 2018. He was also chairman of the National Planning Commission. At the ANC's 54th National Conference on 18 December 2017, he was elected president of the ANC. Two months later, the day after Zuma resigned on 14 February 2018, the National Assembly (NA) elected Ramaphosa as president of South Africa. He began his first full term as president in May 2019 following the ANC's victory in the 2019 general election. While president, Ramaphosa served as chairperson of the African Union from 2020 to 2021 and led South Africa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramaphosa's net worth was estimated at over R6.4 billion ($450 million) as of 2018. He has been criticised for his conduct and involvement in his business interests, including his harsh posture as a Lonmin director towards the Marikana miners' strike in the week ahead of the Marikana massacre.
On 19 December 2022, it was announced that the ANC's 55th National Conference had elected Ramaphosa to a second term as president of the ANC.