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.

Senzo Mchunu says Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to PKTT disbandment

President Cyril Ramaphosa agreed to the controversial disbandment of the political killings task team. This is according to police minister placed on special leave...

Cyril Ramaphosa suspends intelligence watchdog Imtiaz Fazel

President Cyril Ramaphosa has suspended the Inspector-General of Intelligence, Imtiaz Fazel, with immediate effect pending the outcome of a parliamentary investigation into his conduct. The...

SACP accuses Cyril Ramaphosa of pushing foreign-dictated policies

The SACP has launched a blistering attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s proposed Growth and Inclusion (GAIN) strategy, accusing it of being a neoliberal blueprint...

President downplays interactions with controversial tenderpreneur Hangwani Maumela

“You are the Maumela who is putting my name into disrepute,” President Cyril Ramaphosa told controversial businessman Hangwani Maumela during their first interaction outside...

‘Cyril Ramaphosa was merely walking past Morgan Maumela’s house’

President Cyril Ramaphosa was merely walking past the house of controversial tenderpreneur Hangwani Morgan Maumela in September 2023, said his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya. Magwenya said...

Premier Phophi Ramathuba visits N1 bus crash scene that claimed 42 lives

Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba has visited the scene of the tragic N1 bus crash that claimed the lives of 42 Zimbabweans and Malawians...

Cyril Ramaphosa, Barbara Creecy mourn as 42 Zimbabweans, Malawians die in bus crash

President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed sorrow over the deadly bus crash that claimed 42 lives near Makhado in Limpopo. The bus was reportedly travelling from...

Prince Simakade mulls appeal after King Misuzulu SCA ruling

The members of the Zulu royal family who are backing Prince Simakade for the Zulu throne say they are studying Monday's Supreme Court of...

Israel releases South African humanitarians abducted delivering aid to Gaza

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, has confirmed that South African humanitarians, including activist Mandla Mandela, that were abducted by the Israeli...

Cyril Ramaphosa’s plan to sell cheap electricity to steel industry little too late – Expert

Centre for Economic Development and Transformation founder Duma Gqubule has dismissed ANC NEC plan to sell electricity at cheaper rates to chrome, manganese, and...