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H. E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, President, South Africa at ITU Telecom World 2018, Durban, South Africa. Photo by ITU Pictures –

Top 10 Unbelievable Facts About Cyril Ramaphosa

Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa – a lawyer – became an MP and chairman of the constitutional assembly, playing the lead role in drafting South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution, one of the most liberal in the world.

He was also well known on the global stage, having served as Mr. Mandela’s chief negotiator in the talks that led to the end of apartheid in 1994, and was invited to be one of two international arms inspectors in Northern Ireland – playing a key role in the peace process by inspecting the IRA’s secret arms dumps.

1. He was brought up in South Africa and ended up studying Law

Cyril Ramaphosa, Deputy President of South Africa meeting with Iranian parliament chairman, Ali Larijani in Tehran. Photo by Erfan Kouchari –

Cyril Ramaphosa was born on 17 November 1952 in Soweto, Johannesburg, South Africa. He went to Tshilidzi Primary School and Sekano Ntoane High School.

His father Samuel Ramaphosa was a policeman who worked for the apartheid regime. After completing his matriculation, he decided to study law at the University of the North in 1972. He married Dr. Tshepo Motsepe and has four children.

2. His political life began while he was on campus

H. E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa President The Presidency ITU Telecom World 2018. Photo by 
ITU Pictures from Geneva, Switzerland –

At the University he became involved in student politics and joined the South African Students Organisation and the Black People’s Convention.

3. Ramaphosa was detained in the 1970s when he was a student activist

President of South Africa MC Ramaphosa speaks to the Russian President (28 June 2019).
President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo by Presidential Press and Information Office –

He was a freedom fighter and in the 1970s, he was detained as a student activist. For being involved in the resistance in Pretoria Central Prison, he was jailed for 11 months.

 And another six months he was jailed at the John Vorster square detention center in Johannesburg for participating in the Soweto uprising in 1976.

4. He built the most powerful and biggest trade union in South Africa

Vladimir Putin and Cyril Ramaphosa, 26 July 2018. Photo unattributed –

Mr. Ramaphosa built up the most powerful and biggest trade union in South Africa named the National Union of Mineworkers(NUM). He was also appointed the first secretary of NUM in December 1982 at the age of 30 only and held the position until he resigned in June 1991.

 The membership of the Union under his leadership grew from 6000 in 1982 to 3, 00,000 in 1992.

5. He served as the chairman of theNational Reception Committee

Cyril Ramaphosa. VIP Tour – ITU Telecom World 2018. Photo by ITU Pictures from Geneva, Switzerland –

Mr. Ramaphosa served as the chairman of the National Reception Committee, which worked to release Nelson Mandela. And also became a member of the International Mandela Reception Committee.

6. He is one of the richest people in South Africa

Vladimir Putin and Cyril Ramaphosa, 26 July 2018. Photo unattributed – Wikimedia Commons

Ramaphosa is one of the richest people in the country and his Cape Town home is a mansion in the shadow of Lion’s Head which is valued at around R30 million. Amazing is that he is an Ankole cattle breeder and in 2017 one of his prize bulls sold for a whopping R640, 000 at auction.

He loves cattle so much that he wrote a book about Ankole cattle. With an estimated wealth of R6. 4 billion ($450 million). In 2011, Ramaphosa paid for a 20-year master franchise agreement to run 145 McDonald’s restaurants in South Africa.

7. He bought the McDonald’s food chain in South Africa in 2011

H. E. Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa President The Presidency ITU Telecom World 2018. Photo by ITU Pictures from Geneva, Switzerland –

 In 2011, he bought the McDonald’s food chain in South Africa, and in 2016 he announced that he had sold it to MSA Holdings, a company based in the United Arab Emirates.

8. Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as the President of South Africa in February 2018

The arrival of Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa. Photo by G20 Argentina –

 Ramaphosa was elected by the National Assembly as the President of South Africa in February 2018 following the resignation of Jacob Zuma. After becoming president, his main focus is on the economy and land reforms. Earlier, on 25 May 2014, he was appointed as Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa.

9. Ramaphosa launched Youth Employment Service intending to generate employment

Cyril Ramaphosa e Michel Temer. Photo by Cesar Itiberê/PR –

He also launched Youth Employment Service (YES) intending to generate employment. He also introduced Employment Tax Incentive, which cut down employer’s costs while hiring youth.

He has also launched Sanitation Appropriate for Education (SAFE) an initiative to ensure that every school in South Africa has safe sanitation facilities.

10. He is the founder of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation

Wikipedian Lefcentreright with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Photo by
Lefcentreright –

He is also the founder of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation. Its objective is to foster the development of an inclusive society that is empowered and also with his wife; he assists several disadvantaged students financially.

So, these are some interesting facts about the chief guest of Republic Day 2019 that is Cyril Ramaphosa, a successful politician and businessman. No doubt, he is an inspiring personality who has achieved and done so much for the betterment of society whether youths, children, women, etc. After becoming President his main focus is on the economy and land reforms.