Cyril Ramaphosa Biography: Early Life, Career, Age, Personal Life and Controversies

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Cyril Ramaphosa Biography

Cyril Ramaphosa is a well-known figure in South Africa’s history and present. He has lived through major changes in his country. Today, at age 73, he serves as the president of South Africa and leads the African National Congress, or ANC. His life shows a path from fighting against apartheid to building a new nation.

In May 2025, Ramaphosa met with United States President Donald Trump in the Oval Office. This meeting highlighted his skills in handling tough talks on global issues, like trade and land matters.

During the discussion, Trump raised claims about white farmers in South Africa, but Ramaphosa responded calmly, focusing on facts and cooperation. This event shows his role as an international statesman.

Ramaphosa is famous for his work in ending apartheid. He helped negotiate a peaceful shift to democracy in the 1990s. Later, he built a successful business career before returning to politics. As president since 2018, he faces challenges like economic growth, unemployment, and corruption. Yet, he pushes for reforms to make South Africa better.

This article looks at his life to help readers understand who he is. We cover his early years, career steps, controversies, personal side, wealth, and more. By learning about Ramaphosa, people can see how one person’s actions shape a country. His story teaches about resilience, leadership, and change in Africa.

Cyril Ramaphosa Early Life

Cyril Ramaphosa was born on November 17, 1952, in Johannesburg, South Africa. His full name is Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa. He grew up in a time when apartheid laws separated people by race. His parents were from the Venda ethnic group. His father, Samuel Ramaphosa, worked as a policeman who later retired. His mother, Erdmuth Ramaphosa, stayed home to care for the family. Cyril was the second child in a family of three.

In 1962, when Cyril was 10 years old, his family moved from Western Native Township to Soweto. Soweto was a township for black people under apartheid rules. He went to Tshilidzi Primary School there. For high school, he attended Sekano-Ntoane High School in Soweto. He finished his matric, or high school diploma, at Mphaphuli High School in Sibasa, Venda, in 1971. During school, he led the Student Christian Movement. This group helped him learn about leadership and faith.

Apartheid made life hard for black South Africans. They faced limits on where they could live, work, and study. Cyril saw these injustices up close. This sparked his interest in fighting for rights. In 1972, he started studying law at the University of the North, now called University of Limpopo. There, he joined the South African Students Organisation. This group followed black consciousness ideas, which encouraged black people to be proud and stand up against oppression.

His activism led to trouble. In 1974, after a rally supporting freedom in Mozambique, police detained him for 11 months under the Terrorism Act. He spent much of that time alone in a cell. Released in 1975, he kept working for change. He joined the Black People’s Convention. But in 1976, after the Soweto uprising where students protested bad education, police detained him again for six months in Pretoria Central Prison.

Despite these setbacks, Cyril finished his law degree. He earned a Bachelor of Procurationis from the University of South Africa in 1981 through distance learning. This happened while he faced detentions. His early experiences built his resolve to end apartheid. They also taught him about law and organizing people.

Venda heritage played a role in his life. Venda culture values community and tradition. This influenced how he leads, focusing on unity. As a young man, he spoke several languages, which helped him connect with different groups.

These years shaped Ramaphosa into an activist ready for bigger roles. From Soweto streets to university protests, his path set the stage for fighting injustice on a national level.

Cyril Ramaphosa Career

Cyril Ramaphosa’s career spans unions, politics, business, and leadership. He started in the fight against apartheid through labor work. In the early 1980s, he advised the Council of Unions of South Africa on legal matters. This led to his big role in 1982. He founded the National Union of Mineworkers, or NUM. As its first general secretary, he grew the union from 6,000 members to over 300,000 by the late 1980s. Mineworkers faced harsh conditions, and Ramaphosa led strikes for better pay and rights.

In 1985, he helped create the Congress of South African Trade Unions, known as COSATU. This group united workers across industries. His efforts earned him the Olof Palme Prize in 1987 for promoting peace through union work.

As apartheid weakened, Ramaphosa moved to politics. In 1991, the ANC elected him as secretary-general. He worked closely with Nelson Mandela. Ramaphosa led talks to end apartheid at the Convention for a Democratic South Africa, or CODESA. His skills in negotiation helped create a peaceful transition. In 1994, he chaired the Constitutional Assembly. This body wrote South Africa’s new constitution, which promotes equality and rights. That year, he became a Member of Parliament.

But in 1997, Ramaphosa left politics. He felt passed over for higher roles when Thabo Mbeki became Mandela’s successor. He turned to business. He founded the Shanduka Group in 2001. This company invested in mining, energy, and other areas. He held board seats at firms like MTN, Standard Bank, and Lonmin. By 2014, Shanduka was worth billions. Ramaphosa became a key player in black economic empowerment, helping black South Africans enter business.

He also did public service outside politics. In 1998, he chaired a commission on black economic empowerment. From 2010, he served as deputy chair of the National Planning Commission. In 2004, he started the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation. It focuses on education and small business help. Programs like Adopt-a-School have aided over a million students.

Ramaphosa returned to politics in 2012. The ANC elected him deputy president. In 2014, he became South Africa’s deputy president under Jacob Zuma. He pushed for a national minimum wage, set in 2018. To avoid conflicts, he sold business interests and put assets in a trust.

In December 2017, he won the ANC presidency against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. This victory came amid corruption claims against Zuma. On February 15, 2018, after Zuma resigned, Ramaphosa became president. He promised a “new dawn” of clean government and growth.

Voters re-elected him in May 2019 after the ANC won 57 percent of votes. In 2020, he chaired the African Union. He led Africa’s response to COVID-19, securing vaccines. South Africa faced lockdowns, and Ramaphosa tested positive for the virus in December 2021.

The 2024 elections changed things. The ANC got only 40 percent of votes, losing its majority. Ramaphosa formed a Government of National Unity with parties like the Democratic Alliance. On June 14, 2024, Parliament re-elected him. He took oath on June 19, 2024.

As president, he tackles big issues. He raised limits on private power generation to 100 megawatts in 2021 to fight blackouts. In 2022, he legalized cannabis for private use. He launched the Youth Employment Service in 2018 to create jobs. On the world stage, he hosted BRICS summits in 2018 and 2023. He met leaders like Vladimir Putin in 2023 and Xi Jinping. In 2023, he joined an African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia.

In 2025, his meeting with Trump on May 21 addressed U.S. concerns on land and safety. Ramaphosa stressed facts and ties. He also warned Rwanda in January 2025 about conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

His career shows shifts from worker rights to nation-building. Ramaphosa’s work in unions, talks, business, and presidency marks him as a builder of modern South Africa.

Cyril Ramaphosa Controversies

Cyril Ramaphosa has faced several controversies. These involve his business, politics, and personal actions. Facts show challenges to his image as a clean leader.

One major issue came in 2012 with the Marikana massacre. Ramaphosa sat on the board of Lonmin, a mining company. Workers struck for better pay. In emails, he called for strong action against the strikers. On August 16, 2012, police shot and killed 34 miners. A commission later cleared him of direct blame, but critics said he betrayed his union roots. He later said he regretted his words.

In business, questions arose about deals. In 2013, reports claimed he benefited from coal contracts with Eskom, the power company. He denied wrongdoing. His company Shanduka partnered with Glencore, which faced scrutiny. In 2019, the Public Protector investigated payments from Bosasa, a firm linked to corruption. His son Andile received 2 million rand from them. Ramaphosa said it was for business advice, but it raised conflict concerns.

A big scandal hit in 2022: the Phala Phala farm case. In June 2022, a former spy chief claimed thieves stole 4 million dollars from Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo on February 9, 2020. Ramaphosa said it was 580,000 dollars from buffalo sales. He did not report it right away. Parliament probed if he broke rules. In December 2022, a panel suggested impeachment, but the ANC blocked it. The National Prosecuting Authority chose not to charge him in October 2024. Critics called it unfair treatment.

Personal matters also drew attention. In 2017, emails leaked about extramarital affairs. Ramaphosa admitted to one but denied others. In September 2025, reports linked his nephew to a 326 million rand fraud scheme. In October 2025, a video showed him with Hangwani Maumela, tied to hospital corruption. He first denied knowing him but later admitted they met.

In politics, some accuse him of slow action on corruption. During Zuma’s time, he stayed quiet on scandals. In 2022, he warned his party about renewal needs. Foreign policy drew fire too. In March 2022, he blamed NATO for Russia’s war on Ukraine. In January 2024, he misidentified a Sudanese leader.

These events test his leadership. Supporters say he fights corruption through commissions. Critics want more accountability. Facts show no convictions, but questions linger on ethics and transparency.

Cyril Ramaphosa Personal Life

Cyril Ramaphosa keeps much of his personal life private, but some details show a family man with strong ties. He has married three times. His first marriage was to Hope Ramaphosa from 1978 to 1989. They had one son. His second marriage to Nomazizi Mtshotshisa lasted from 1991 to 1993. No children came from that union.

Since 1996, he has been married to Tshepo Motsepe. She is a doctor and sister to Patrice Motsepe, a mining billionaire. They have three children: sons Tumelo and Andile, and daughter Mashudu. Ramaphosa has at least one more child from earlier relationships, making five in total. His family supports him in public roles. Tshepo often joins him at events.

Ramaphosa follows the Methodist faith. It guides his values of service and community. He enjoys farming, especially breeding Ankole cattle. In 2004, he bought 43 cows from Uganda’s president. In 2017, he co-wrote a book on the breed. His Phala Phala farm in Limpopo is a retreat.

He owns about 30 properties, including a luxury home in Cape Town. Declared in 2017, they show his wealth from business. Ramaphosa speaks many languages, like Venda, English, and others. This helps in speeches to diverse groups.

Through his foundation, he gives back. Since 2018, he donates half his presidential salary to charity. His life balances public duty with family and hobbies.

Cyril Ramaphosa Net Worth

Cyril Ramaphosa’s net worth comes mostly from his business years. Estimates put it at around 450 million dollars as of 2025. This makes him one of South Africa’s richest politicians.

His wealth grew through Shanduka Group. Founded in 2001, it held stakes in mining, telecoms like MTN, and food chains like McDonald’s South Africa. In 2011, he got a franchise for 145 McDonald’s outlets. By 2014, Shanduka was valued at over 20 billion rand. He sold parts in 2015 to focus on politics.

Other sources include board fees from companies like Standard Bank and Anglo American. His farm and cattle add value. In 2018, Forbes listed him at 450 million dollars. Recent reports in 2025 keep similar figures.

As president, his salary is about 4 million rand a year. He donates half to his foundation. Assets sit in a blind trust to avoid conflicts. His net worth shows success in black economic empowerment, but it also draws scrutiny in a country with high inequality.

Conclusion

Cyril Ramaphosa’s life tells a story of change in South Africa. From a Soweto boy facing apartheid to president leading a democracy, he has shaped his nation. His work in unions built worker power. Negotiations ended racial rule peacefully. Business made him wealthy and showed economic paths for black people. As leader, he fights for jobs, clean government, and global ties.

Challenges remain. Economic woes, scandals, and divisions test him. Yet, his calm style and focus on unity offer hope. In 2025, at 73, he guides South Africa through coalitions and world shifts. His legacy may be as a bridge from past struggles to future progress.

Learning about Ramaphosa helps understand Africa’s biggest economy. His path teaches that hard work, talks, and ethics can drive change. South Africa looks to him for a better tomorrow.

FAQs

How old is Cyril Ramaphosa?

He is 73 years old, born on November 17, 1952.

What is Cyril Ramaphosa famous for?

He is known for leading anti-apartheid talks, founding a major union, building businesses, and serving as South Africa’s president since 2018.

Who is Cyril Ramaphosa’s wife?

His current wife is Tshepo Motsepe, a doctor, married since 1996.

How did Cyril Ramaphosa become president?

He won the ANC leadership in 2017. After Jacob Zuma resigned on February 14, 2018, Ramaphosa took over on February 15, 2018. Voters re-elected him in 2019 and 2024.