President Cyril Ramaphosa

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was born on 17 November 1952 in Johannesburg. His family was moved from Western Native Township to Soweto in 1962, where he attended Tshilidzi Primary School. He completed high school at Mphaphuli High School in Sibasa, Venda in 1971.

He registered to study law at the University of the North in 1972, where he became involved in student politics, joining the South African Student Organisation (SASO) and the Black People’s Convention (BPC). He was detained in solitary confinement for 11 months in 1974 under Section 6 of the Terrorism Act for organising pro-Frelimo rallies. He was detained for the second time and held for six months in 1976 following the Soweto student uprising.

While a law clerk for a Johannesburg firm of attorneys, he continued his studies through the University of South Africa (UNISA) obtaining his B. Proc degree in 1981. He then joined the Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA) as a legal advisor.


In 1982, at the request of the Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA) he founded the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) with James Motlatsi and Elijah Barayi, and became the union’s first General Secretary. He was instrumental in building NUM into the most powerful union at the time, with membership rising from 6 000 to 300 000 during his tenure. He led mineworkers in one of the biggest strikes in South Africa’s history in 1987.

Nkabane apologises to Terry Motau

Cyril Ramaphosa sends higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane packing

President Cyril Ramaphosa has sacked Dr Nobuhle Nkabane from her position as the higher education minister. In a statement issued on Monday night, the...
Mischievous ANC leaders use Fikile Mbalula as a scapegoat  

Mischievous ANC leaders use Fikile Mbalula as a scapegoat  

ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula is being used as a scapegoat by his mischievous colleagues who apportion the blame on him for the party’s...
Costs for Mabuza's funeral remain unknown

Presidency mum on David Mabuza’s category two funeral costs

The Presidency has remained tight-lipped on how much the state spent on the funeral of former deputy president David Dabede Mabuza, who was laid...
Mchunu ready to defend himself

Senzo Mchunu breaks his silence, eagerly waiting to defend himself

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has broken his silence since he was placed on a leave of absence on Sunday by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Mchunu was...
LAM applaud Ramaphosa's move to place Senzo Mchunu on leave

Cyril Ramaphosa defends democracy against John Hlophe’s SA ‘laundry list’

President Cyril Ramaphosa has fired back at uMkhonto weSizwe deputy president John Hlophe’s criticism of South Africa’s challenges, accusing him of ignoring the progress...
Suspended Senzo Mchunu to make first public appearance for Mandela Day event

Suspended Senzo Mchunu to make first public appearance for Mandela Day event

Senzo Mchunu, the suspended Minister of Police who is also serving as a ANC member of parliament and the party’s national executive committee (NEC),...
'Panyaza Lesufi expected to cooperate in drug syndicate probe'

‘Panyaza Lesufi expected to cooperate in drug syndicate probe’

Gauteng ANC provincial coordinator Hope Papo said they expected Premier Panyaza Lesufi to cooperate with the probe into the alleged criminal syndicate that KwaZulu-Natal...
ANC

Report fingers ex-Nelson Mandela security advisor in #ANCMustFall

Private security group Fidelity has fingered the United Independent Movement, whose leader Neil de Beer is highly active on YouTube, as spearheading a growing...
'Ramaphosa doesn't have power to suspend minister Mchunu'

‘President Cyril Ramaphosa doesn’t have power to suspend minister Senzo Mchunu’

The lawyers of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have written a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa stating that he does not have the power...
Mbalula defends Ramaphosa

Fikile Mbalula: Cyril Ramaphosa did not tiptoe around political ally Senzo Mchunu

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says President Cyril Ramaphosa did not tiptoe around suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu despite their alleged political alliance. “ANC members are...