Cyril Ramaphosa

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, a South African businessman and politician, was born on November 17, 1952. He currently serves as the fifth and current president of South Africa since 2018.

His family was moved from Western Native Township to Soweto in 1962.

He completed high school at Mphaphuli High School in Sibasa, Venda in 1971.

In 1972, Cyril Ramaphosa became involved in student politics and joined the South African Students Organization (SASO).

In 1974, Cyril Ramaphosa was detained in solitary confinement for eleven months under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act, 1967, for organizing pro-Frelimo rallies.

Cyril Ramaphosa began his political activism during the 1976 Soweto Uprising, a period of student protests against the apartheid regime. He was part of the movement organized under the banner of the black consciousness movement.

After completing his degree in 1981, Cyril Ramaphosa joined the independent trade union movement, the Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA), which played a crucial role in his activism.

In August 1982, Cyril Ramaphosa resolved to establish the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), a significant labor union in South Africa.

In December 1982, Cyril Ramaphosa assumed the role of the first secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM), showcasing his leadership in the labor movement.

In December 1985, Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a significant keynote address at the launch rally of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), highlighting his involvement in the labor movement.

In March 1986, Cyril Ramaphosa was part of COSATU's delegation that met with the African National Congress in Lusaka, Zambia, showcasing his political engagement.

In July 1986, following the declaration of the state of emergency, Cyril Ramaphosa went into hiding due to security police actions against political activists, reflecting the challenging political climate.

In September 1987, Cyril Ramaphosa was denied a passport to travel to Britain, indicating the restrictions imposed on his movements.

In October 1987, Cyril Ramaphosa received the Olof Palme Prize in Stockholm.

In December 1988, Cyril Ramaphosa and other prominent members of the Soweto community met with Soweto's Mayor to discuss the rent boycott crisis, demonstrating his community involvement.

In January 1990, Cyril Ramaphosa accompanied released ANC political prisoners to Lusaka, Zambia. He served as chairman of the National Reception committee, coordinating arrangements for the release of Nelson Mandela and subsequent welcome rallies within South Africa.

In June 1991, Cyril Ramaphosa resigned as the general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) after being elected as the secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC).

In July 1991, the African National Congress (ANC) held its first conference after being unbanned. Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as the secretary general of the ANC, becoming part of the leadership core tasked with negotiating a new Constitution with the National Party government.

In October 1991, Cyril Ramaphosa served as a visiting Professor of Law at Stanford University in the United States of America.

In November 1991, Cyril Ramaphosa led the ANC delegation in negotiating the end of apartheid with the South African government, marking a significant step towards democracy in the country.

On 7 September 1992, Cyril Ramaphosa was present at the ANC's march on Bisho where Ciskei troops fired on the crowd, resulting in 24 deaths and 2000 injuries.

On May 24, 1994, Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as the chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly in South Africa, playing a central role in Mandela's Government of National Unity after the first fully democratic elections.

In 1996, Cyril Ramaphosa resigned from his positions in the African National Congress (ANC) and Parliament, announcing his withdrawal from politics reportedly due to his disappointment with the succession of Thabo Mbeki as Nelson Mandela's successor.

In 1997, Cyril Ramaphosa retreated from active politics and took on the role of director at New Africa Investments Limited. Despite stepping away from the political scene, his negotiation skills were still acknowledged internationally through his involvement in mediation and conflict resolution.

In 1998, Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed as the Chairman of South Africa's BEE Commission, playing a significant role in Black Economic Empowerment initiatives.

Established in 1999, the Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust provides educational support and scholarships to disadvantaged South African youth.

In 2000, Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed as an arms inspector in the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, overseeing the decommissioning of Irish Republican Army armaments in Northern Ireland.

In 2001, Cyril Ramaphosa founded the Shanduka Group, an investment firm with holdings in various business sectors, contributing to his success as a businessman.

During the 51st National Conference of the ANC in 2002, Cyril Ramaphosa received the second-highest number of votes among all candidates.

The Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation Trust was established in 2003.

During a visit to Uganda in 2004, Cyril Ramaphosa purchased 43 Ankole cows from Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni, shipped them to Kenya for artificial insemination, and later transferred the embryos to South Africa, where he now owns 100 Ankole breeding cows.

In 2007, ahead of the 52nd National Conference, Cyril Ramaphosa refuted persistent rumors about his intention to contest for the ANC presidency, ranking 30th on the list of popular NEC candidates that year.

In 2009, Cyril Ramaphosa received the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, presented by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in Cape Town.

In April 2010, Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed by President Jacob Zuma to the National Planning Commission, where he served as deputy chairperson to Minister in the Presidency Trevor Manuel.

In 2011, Cyril Ramaphosa's estimated net worth of R2.22 billion made him the 13th richest person in South Africa, excluding his unlisted investments through Shanduka.

On May 20, 2012, Derek Hanekom, an ANC MP, publicly urged Cyril Ramaphosa to consider running for the ANC presidency, praising his leadership qualities.

The Marikana massacre took place on 16 August 2012, where police shot and killed 34 miners during a strike. Cyril Ramaphosa, a Lonmin shareholder, was implicated in the events leading up to the massacre, causing controversy and criticism.

On December 16, 2012, Cyril Ramaphosa finally confirmed his intention to accept the nomination for ANC Deputy President, a day before the conference began.

On 3 February 2013, Cyril Ramaphosa resigned from his position at Lomnin.

Public messages sent to Cyril Ramaphosa were being fetched starting from April 22, 2014.

Public messages sent to Cyril Ramaphosa were being fetched until May 7, 2014.

On May 25, 2014, President Jacob Zuma appointed Cyril Ramaphosa as the Deputy President of South Africa, and he was sworn into office the following day.

In 2015, the Marikana Commission of Inquiry cleared Cyril Ramaphosa of any responsibility regarding the Marikana Massacre.

Cyril Ramaphosa pledges to maintain his role as a special envoy to South Sudan, showcasing his commitment to diplomatic efforts in the region.

Information about the early years of Cyril Ramaphosa was shared on a website in 2017.

On December 18, 2017, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as the president of the African National Congress (ANC). This marked a significant leadership role within the party.

On February 13, 2018, the ANC announced the recall of Jacob Zuma from the presidency, leading to his resignation the next day and Cyril Ramaphosa becoming the acting president of South Africa.

On February 15, 2018, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as the president of South Africa by the National Assembly (NA) following the resignation of President Jacob Zuma.

On February 16, 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his first State of the Nation Address as the President of South Africa. The address outlined his vision and plans for the country's future under his leadership.

On 17 February 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa attended the Armed Forces Inter-Faith Service as the commander in chief of the South African National Defence Force and made his first public speech as the president of South Africa.

On 26 February 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa reshuffled his cabinet for the first time, removing controversial members with close links to the Gupta family. He appointed David Mabuza as the Deputy President.

On 19 March 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Tom Moyane as the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service after Moyane refused to step down.

On 24 May 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa publicly declared that he would donate half of his salary to charity in honor of Nelson Mandela. This philanthropic gesture aimed to inspire others to contribute to nation-building efforts.

Ramaphosa hosted the 11th BRICS summit from 25–27 July 2018 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

On 14 August 2018, Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Dr. Silas Ramaite as the Acting National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) following a ruling by the Constitutional Court.

Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a speech at the Ohlange Institute in Ethkwini on January 8, 2019, commemorating the 107th Anniversary of the ANC. The speech was part of speeches and public statements.

On February 7, 2019, Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address, focusing on key issues facing South Africa and his government's plans to address them. The address highlighted the priorities for the year ahead.

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

He assumed the position of President in the National Executive on May 22, 2019. This marked the beginning of his presidency.

In May 2019, Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as the president of South Africa in the National Assembly for his first full term, forming a gender-balanced cabinet in South African history.

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane released a report accusing Ramaphosa of misleading Parliament regarding donations to his CR17 campaign. Political leaders called for impeachment and investigations, while Ramaphosa criticized the report and called for a judicial review.

Allegations surfaced about a significant amount of cash being stolen from Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm. The exact amount was disputed, with subsequent accusations of corruption, obstruction of justice, and bribery.

On February 13, 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address, outlining the government's agenda and priorities for the year. The address covered various aspects of governance and development in South Africa.

On April 21, 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a speech to the nation outlining economic and social relief measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The address aimed to provide support and guidance to the citizens during a challenging time.

On February 11, 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address, addressing the nation on key issues and government initiatives. The speech outlined plans for economic recovery and social development.

Ramaphosa stated that the ANC condemned the potential evictions of Palestinian families from their homes in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem and the brutal attacks on Palestinian protesters at Al-Aqsa.

On 10 June 2021, Cyril Ramaphosa announced the government's decision to raise the threshold for the amount of electricity that private companies could produce without a license from 1 Megawatt to 100 Megawatts.

On 12 December 2021, it was announced that Cyril Ramaphosa had tested positive for COVID-19. Deputy president, David Mabuza took over his responsibilities for the following week.

President Ramaphosa delivered the State of the Nation Address on February 10, 2022. It is an official document that outlines policy documents and includes speeches and public statements.

On 11 February 2022, Cyril Ramaphosa announced that his government would formalize the South African cannabis industry, aiming to boost production and exports.

Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ramaphosa did not condemn Russia or agree to any sanctions against Russia. He mentioned maintaining neutrality and blamed NATO's eastward expansion for the war.

On November 30, 2022, the Section 89 Panel Report found that Cyril Ramaphosa might have violated the country's constitution in the 'Farmgate' scandal, leading to discussions on impeachment proceedings.

After accusations of corruption and other charges, a parliamentary vote on 13 December 2022 resulted in 214 votes against the impeachment of President Ramaphosa.

On December 19, 2022, Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was re-elected to a second term as president of the African National Congress (ANC) during the party's 55th National Conference.

President Ramaphosa delivered the State of the Nation Address on February 9, 2023. It is an official document that includes policy documents.

The United States ambassador to South Africa alleged that the country was supplying weapons and ammunition to Russia. Ramaphosa announced a potential peace plan delegation visit to Moscow and Kyiv.

Ramaphosa announced a new peace initiative for Ukraine by African leaders. He led a delegation to Russia and Ukraine for peace talks.

On June 30, 2023, the official investigation report was released, confirming that Cyril Ramaphosa had been cleared of any wrongdoing by the public protector.

In January 2024, Cyril Ramaphosa met with Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo “Hemetti” for the first time since the start of the war in Sudan. Ramaphosa called for a ceasefire, showing a diplomatic effort amidst the humanitarian crisis in the country.