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.

‘Cyril Ramaphosa, did you talk to Paul Mashatile over family scoring lottery licence?’

EFF leader Julius Malema has written a letter to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, asking him if he has spoke to Deputy President Paul...
David Mabuza has passed away

Former deputy president David Mabuza has died

David Mabuza, the former deputy president of South Africa, has passed away. His passing on Thursday at a Johannesburg hospital was confirmed by ANC...
Tough governance issues for Creecy to navigate 

Tough governance issues for Creecy to navigate 

One year after the birth of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government of national unity, the time has come for a critical reckoning – an honest...
Cyril Ramaphosa

Charmza: President Cyril Ramaphosa

Charmza: President Cyril Ramaphosa Our charmza this week is President Cyril Ramaphosa.   In a week when lions roared and circled with demands and ultimatums, the buffalo...
DA leader Steenhuisen bloodies Zille camp’s nose in Fedex

DA leader Steenhuisen bloodies Zille camp’s nose in Fedex meeting 

The DA federal council chairperson, Helen Zille, and her faction, who pushed for the party to table a motion of no confidence in President...
Mixed reaction over Rain Queen’s initiation school ban 

Mixed reaction over Rain Queen’s initiation school ban 

The Balobedu residents in Modjadji outside Tzaneen in Limpopo have reacted with mixed feelings to the suspension of the initiation school season in the...
Inside Zuma’s court bid to remain ANC

Inside Zuma’s court bid to remain ANC

Former South African president Jacob Zuma has launched a legal assault against the ANC and President Cyril Ramaphosa, branding his expulsion a “political witch-hunt”...
Nomvula Mokonyane says ANC will defend Zuma's expulsion

ANC deputy SG Nomvula Mokonyane says party will defend decision to expel Zuma

ANC’s first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane says the ANC will defend its decision to expel its former president Jacob Zuma from the party in...
Cyril Ramaphosa

Helen Zille calls urgent meeting as Cyril Ramaphosa fires DA deputy minister

President Cyril Ramaphosa has axed Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Andrew Whitfield from the position of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition. Speaking during a...
Zuma drags Ramaphosa and ANC to court

Jacob Zuma hauls Cyril Ramaphosa, ANC to court over expulsion

MK Party leader Jacob Zuma has announced that he has launched a legal application against the ANC and its president, Cyril Ramaphosa, to set...