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.

Service delivery in North West

Cyril Ramaphosa slams ‘deafening silence’ as governance failures leave communities dry

The persistent failure of local governments to deliver basic services, such as water, has become a glaring indictment of governance in the North West. Speaking...
Samro CEO accused of misleading public

‘Samro board downplayed role of international recording labels amid fraud allegations’

Samro CEO, Annabelle Lebethe, is accused of misleading the public about the findings of the Fundudzi forensic investigation. During her recent media tour, Lebethe repeatedly...

Only a fool will vote for ANC after Cyril Ramaphosa showered DA with praises – expert

Political analyst Xolani Dube says President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent compliments on the DA local governance strategy have confirmed that the ANC can no longer...
Ramaphosa gives ANC councillors marching orders

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa demands quick action on leaks, sewage spills

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered councillors across the country to act quickly on water and sanitation problems in their communities, giving them just 48...
Zuma lashes Jabulani Khumalo's court application

Let’em eat amagwinya, Baas John tells MK 

Let’em eat amagwinya, Baas John tells MK  So, the MK Party has thrown a whole FNB Stadium-sized fit at Cupcake and minister John Steenhuisen. Apparently,...
MITCHELL'S PLAIN, SOUTH AFRICA - JANUARY 25: Community members during a protest outside Mitchells Plain Police Station on January 25, 2024 in Mitchell's Plain, South Africa. It is alleged that 15 guns and 8 imitation guns were stolen or went missing from the SAPS in November 2023. (Photo by Gallo Images/Brenton Geach)

ActionSA wants ‘warzone’ Cape Flats declared state of emergency

ActionSA MP Dereleen James has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a state of emergency on the Cape Flats to stop ongoing bloody gang...

SA has no military engagement with Iran – Cyril Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended South Africa’s diplomatic stance on Iran, saying both countries will adhere to their own principles and values. He was responding...

ANALYSIS | Stan Mathabatha’s protest: Factional stunt or genuine call for renewal?

A lot is happening in the ANC in Limpopo, and the centre is not holding. And the unprecedented decision by provincial chairperson Stan Mathabatha...
Shadrack Sibiya intensifies his fight

How Shadrack Sibiya’s affidavit changes stakes for SAPS leadership, or not

If there was any lingering doubt about the gravity of the leadership crisis in the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant-General Shadrack Sibiya’s latest...
Ramaphosa special operation

ANALYSIS| Growing mutiny against Cyril Ramaphosa, the beginning of the end?

There has been a growing political mutiny against ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa in a manner that suggests that this is the beginning of the...