Cyril Ramaphosa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa in September 2024
5th President of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 February 2018
Deputy	David Mabuza (2018–2023) Paul Mashatile (since 2023)
Preceded by	Jacob Zuma
14th President of the African National Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 December 2017
Deputy	David Mabuza (2017–2022) Paul Mashatile (since 2022)
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 7 July 1991 – December 1996
President	Nelson Mandela
Preceded by	Alfred Nzo
Succeeded by	Cheryl Carolus (acting) Kgalema Motlanthe
Member of the National Assembly
In office 9 May 1994 – December 1996
Additional offices 1982‍–‍2021 18th Chairperson of the African Union In office 10 February 2020 – 6 February 2021 Preceded by Abdel Fattah el-Sisi Succeeded by Felix Tshisekedi 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 1st Secretary-General of the National Union of Mineworkers In office August 1982 – June 1991 President James Motlatsi Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Kgalema Motlanthe
Personal details
Born	Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (1952-11-17) 17 November 1952 (age 72) Soweto, 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 (estimated)
Alma mater	University of the North University of South Africa
Occupation	Politician businessman lawyer trade unionist philanthropist activist

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African politician and businessman. He is the 5th and current President of South Africa, serving since 2018. He is also the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) political party.

Before becoming president, Ramaphosa was a strong anti-apartheid activist. He was also a well-known trade union leader. He became famous as the secretary general of the National Union of Mineworkers, a very powerful union. In 1991, he was chosen as the ANC's secretary general under Nelson Mandela. He played a key role in the talks that helped end apartheid in South Africa.

After the first democratic elections in 1994, he helped write the country's new Constitution. Many people thought he might be Mandela's next successor. However, he left politics in 1996 and became a successful businessman. He owned McDonald's South Africa and was on the boards of big companies like MTN and Lonmin.

Ramaphosa returned to politics in 2012. He became the deputy president of South Africa from 2014 to 2018 under President Jacob Zuma. In December 2017, he was elected president of the ANC. Two months later, in February 2018, he became the President of South Africa. He started his first full term as president in May 2019. As president, he led South Africa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, he was re-elected as ANC leader, and in June 2024, he was elected for a second term as President of South Africa.

Early Life and Activism

Cyril Ramaphosa was born in Soweto, Johannesburg, on 17 November 1952. His parents were from the Venda community. He was the second of three children. His father was a retired policeman.

He went to Tshilidzi Primary School and Sekano Ntoane High School in Soweto. In 1971, he finished high school at Mphaphuli High School. He then started studying law at the University of the North in 1972.

While at university, Ramaphosa became involved in student politics. He joined the South African Students Organisation (SASO) and the Black People's Convention (BPC). Because of this, he was arrested and held for eleven months in 1974. He was arrested again in 1976 after the Soweto protests and held for six months. After his release, he worked as a law clerk. He continued his law studies by mail through the University of South Africa (UNISA) and got his law degree in 1981.

Fighting for Workers' Rights

After finishing his law studies, Ramaphosa joined the Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA). In 1982, CUSA asked him to start a union for mineworkers. This new union was called the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM). Ramaphosa was arrested again for planning a meeting that was banned.

In August 1982, Ramaphosa became the first secretary of the NUM. He helped set up the Congress of the South African Trade Union (COSATU) and gave a main speech at its launch in 1985. In 1986, he was part of a COSATU group that met the African National Congress in Zambia.

Ramaphosa was the first general secretary of the NUM until 1991. Under his leadership, the union grew from 6,000 members in 1982 to 300,000 in 1992. This meant the NUM represented almost half of all black mineworkers in South Africa. He also led one of the biggest strikes in South African history.

In 1985, the NUM joined COSATU. COSATU then teamed up with the United Democratic Front (UDF) to oppose the government. Ramaphosa became a key leader in this movement, known as the Mass Democratic Movement. He has said that he believes in socialism, which focuses on fairness and equality for everyone.

Helping South Africa Change

When the ANC was allowed to operate again in 1990, Ramaphosa became very involved. He helped coordinate Nelson Mandela's release from prison. In July 1991, he was elected Secretary-General of the ANC. He then led the ANC's team in the important talks that ended apartheid. In October 1991, he was also a visiting professor at Stanford University.

After South Africa's first fully democratic elections in 1994, he became a Member of Parliament. He was chosen to lead the Constitutional Assembly on 24 May 1994. This was a very important job in Mandela's new government. He was re-elected as ANC Secretary-General in December 1994. However, in 1996, he left his ANC role and Parliament. He reportedly left politics because he was disappointed about who would become Mandela's successor.

Business Career (1996–2014)

After leaving politics, Ramaphosa became a successful businessman. He took advantage of the new Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy, which aimed to help black South Africans get involved in the economy. He was the executive chairman of the Shanduka Group, a company he started. This company invested in mining, energy, property, banking, and telecoms. By 2014, Shanduka was a very large company.

Ramaphosa also chaired the boards of companies like Bidvest, MTN, and Mondi. He was a director for other big companies like Alexander Forbes and Standard Bank. In 2011, he bought the right to run 145 McDonald's restaurants in South Africa. He was also on advisory boards for Coca-Cola Company and Unilever.

Cattle Farming

In 2004, during a trip to Uganda, Ramaphosa became interested in Ankole cattle. These cattle have very long horns. Because of health rules, he couldn't bring them directly to South Africa. So, he bought 43 cows from Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni. The embryos from these cows were then brought to South Africa and placed into other cows. By 2017, Ramaphosa had 100 Ankole breeding cows on his Ntaba Nyoni farm in Mpumalanga. That year, he also helped write a book about these cattle.

Public Service Roles

Even though he left politics, Ramaphosa sometimes took on public roles. He became the first Vice Chairman of the Commonwealth Business Council. In 1998, he chaired South Africa's BEE Commission. In 2000, he worked as an arms inspector in Northern Ireland, helping to supervise the removal of weapons. In 2010, President Jacob Zuma appointed him as deputy chairperson of the National Planning Commission.

In 2007, he was chosen to help mediate during a political crisis in Kenya. However, he later stepped down because one side felt he might be biased. He returned to peacemaking in 2014, helping with the civil war in South Sudan.

Ramaphosa also continued to be elected to the ANC's National Executive Committee. He was very popular in these elections, showing that people still respected him.

ANC Deputy Presidency (2012–2017)

Ramaphosa meets with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet in Santiago, 8 August 2014

Ramaphosa returned to a leading political role in 2012. He was nominated to become the ANC Deputy President. On 16 December, just before the ANC's 53rd National Conference, he confirmed he would accept the nomination. He had strong support from President Jacob Zuma. On 18 December, Ramaphosa was elected ANC Deputy President with a large number of votes.

Deputy Presidency of South Africa (2014–2018)

After the 2014 elections, President Zuma appointed Ramaphosa as the Deputy President of South Africa on 25 May 2014. He was sworn into office the next day.

Ramaphosa had to leave his business positions to avoid any conflict of interest. This meant he left Shanduka, McDonald's South Africa, and Lonmin. His other business interests, like his farms and property, were put into a special trust.

Working in Government

As Deputy President, Ramaphosa was also made the Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly. This role involved making sure Parliament and the President's cabinet worked well together. He was also appointed Chairman of the National Planning Commission.

Ramaphosa was also in charge of creating a plan for a national minimum wage. He worked with government, labour unions, and businesses on this idea. The plan was approved in November 2017.

In July 2014, Ramaphosa asked for unity in the country. He spoke about the importance of building a nation and reaching out to everyone. Later in Zuma's time as president, Ramaphosa also started speaking publicly about concerns of corruption in the government.

International Engagements

Ramaphosa at the Global Open Government Summit in Mexico City, 28 October 2015

In 2018, Ramaphosa led South Africa's team to the World Economic Forum in Davos. His goal was to encourage more investment and business in South Africa. He also visited countries like Vietnam and Singapore to strengthen trade relations. Ramaphosa continued to help mediate in the South Sudanese conflict and in Lesotho.

ANC Presidency (2017–present)

Becoming ANC Leader

Ramaphosa ran for the ANC presidency in 2017. His campaign, called #CR17 Siyavuma, focused on fighting corruption and improving the economy. He was supported by many groups and politicians.

His main opponent was Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. On 18 December 2017, Ramaphosa was elected President of the ANC. He won against Dlamini-Zuma with 2,440 votes to 2,261.

Renewing the ANC

In his first speech as ANC leader, Ramaphosa promised to stop corruption within the party. He started a campaign to "renew" the ANC and improve its image. This included a new rule to suspend ANC leaders who were accused of corruption.

In December 2022, Ramaphosa was re-elected as the leader of the ANC for a second term. In the 2024 general election, the ANC lost its majority in Parliament. However, Ramaphosa secured a third term as president in June 2024. This happened after the ANC formed a coalition with other parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA).

Presidency of South Africa (2018–present)

After President Jacob Zuma resigned in February 2018, Ramaphosa was elected unopposed as President of South Africa by the National Assembly on 15 February 2018. He took his oath of office.

The day after Ramaphosa became president, markets reacted positively. Stock prices went up, and the South African currency (the rand) became stronger.

On 16 February 2018, Ramaphosa gave his first State of the Nation Address. He spoke about the need to grow the economy of South Africa, increase tourism, create jobs for young people, and make the government smaller. He also stressed the importance of keeping Nelson Mandela's legacy alive.

His speech was generally well-received by other political parties. They said it was positive and could bring change, but they would hold him accountable.

On 26 February 2018, Ramaphosa changed his cabinet for the first time. He removed many ministers who had been involved in controversies during the previous presidency. He also appointed David Mabuza as the country's Deputy President.

Ramaphosa with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on 17 June 2023

On 8 May 2019, the ANC, led by President Ramaphosa, won 57.50% of the vote in the 2019 South African general election. Ramaphosa was then elected unopposed for his first full term as president on 22 May 2019.

At the 2020 African Union (AU) summit, Ramaphosa supported the African Continental Free Trade Area. He said it would help African countries grow their industries and join the global market. He also spoke about closing the gender gap and ending gender inequality.

His government responded to the 2021 South African unrest, which were the deadliest riots in South Africa since the apartheid era.

Ramaphosa was re-elected as President for a second term on 14 June 2024. He was inaugurated on 19 June 2024.

Domestic Policies

Ramaphosa in 2019

Since becoming president, Ramaphosa has focused on land reform and the economy. He also dealt with an outbreak of listeriosis.

In February 2018, South Africa's parliament voted to change the constitution to allow land to be taken without payment in some cases. This was aimed at addressing historical land issues.

On 19 March 2018, Ramaphosa suspended Tom Moyane as the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service.

On 10 June 2021, Ramaphosa announced a change to allow private companies to produce more electricity without a special license. This decision was made to help with the country's ongoing energy crisis.

Ramaphosa also launched the Youth Employment Service (YES) initiative. This program aims to help one million young people find jobs and gain work experience. The government also introduced a tax incentive to encourage employers to hire young people.

On 14 August 2018, President Ramaphosa launched the Sanitation Appropriate For Education (SAFE) initiative. This program aims to improve toilets and sanitation in the country's poorest schools.

Foreign Relations

Map showing a summary of the countries Ramaphosa made official trips as president.

Ramaphosa's first international trip as President was to Angola on 2 March 2018. He met with President João Lourenço to discuss peace and defence in the region.

On 20 March 2018, Ramaphosa visited Kigali, Rwanda. He met with President Paul Kagame to discuss improving relations between South Africa and Rwanda. He also signed an agreement for the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Ramaphosa alongside UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the 47th G7 summit, 12 June 2021

Ramaphosa hosted the 11th BRICS summit in Johannesburg from 25–27 July 2018. BRICS is a group of major emerging economies.

On 10 May 2021, Ramaphosa said that the ANC strongly condemned the possible evictions of Palestinian families from their homes and attacks on Palestinian protesters.

In November 2022, Ramaphosa was the first foreign head of state to make a formal state visit to the United Kingdom during the reign of King Charles III.

Ramaphosa with U.S. President Joe Biden in the White House, 16 September 2022

Ramaphosa and other BRICS leaders during the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, August 2023. Russia was represented by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

In July 2023, Ramaphosa attended the 2023 Russia–Africa Summit in Saint Petersburg. He met with Russian President Putin and called for peace in Ukraine. He also expressed concern about the global food crisis and rising fertilizer prices.

Ramaphosa has called for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war. He stated that South Africans understand what Palestinians are going through. He condemned the blockade of the Gaza Strip and the "collective punishment" of Palestinians.

In January 2024, he met with Hemedti, a leader in Sudan. He called for a ceasefire in Sudan.

Giving Back to the Community

On 24 May 2018, Ramaphosa announced that he would donate half of his annual salary (R3.6 million) to charity. He did this to honour former South African president Nelson Mandela. He hoped this gesture would encourage other wealthy people to donate some of their money to help build the nation. The donation is managed by the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Ramaphosa is also the founder of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, which supports education and youth development.

Awards and Honours

Ramaphosa has received many awards for his work. He received the Olof Palme Prize in Sweden in 1987. In 2009, he received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement. He has often been listed as an influential person, including in the Time 100 list in 2007 and 2019.

He has also received honorary doctorates from many universities, both in South Africa and internationally. These include the University of Cape Town and the University of Pennsylvania.

State Honours

•  Algeria: Medal of the Order of National Merit (2024)
•  Guinea: Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (2019)
•  Saudi Arabia: Collar of the Order of King Abdulaziz (2018)
•  Senegal: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Lion (2021)
•  United Kingdom: Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (2022)

Personal Life

Cyril Ramaphosa has been married three times. He was married to Hope Ramaphosa from 1978 to 1989, and they have a son. He was then married to Nomazizi Mtshotshisa from 1991 to 1993. In 1996, he married Tshepo Motsepe, who is a medical doctor and the sister of a South African mining billionaire. He is thought to have five children in total.

He owns a luxury house in Cape Town and other properties. He is known for speaking many South African languages in his speeches.

Images for kids

• Cyril Ramaphosa 2019 (cropped).jpg

  Ramaphosa in 2019

See also

In Spanish: Cyril Ramaphosa para niños