The man Cyril Ramaphosa

Cyril is set to succeed President Jacob Zuma as ANC’s party leader. He has been put at a strong position to become president in the next polls.

So who exactly is this man?

About

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was born on 17th November, 1952, in Soweto, Johannesburg. He is the second born of Erdmuth and Samuel Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa attended Tshilidzi Primary School and Sekano Notane High School, both in Soweto. He finished at Mphaphuli High School, and registered to study law.

While at university, he was detained in solitary confinement for 11 months, for organizing pro-frelimo rallies. He was detained again, following unrest in Soweto, for six months. After his release, he became a law clerk, and obtained his degree.

Leader

It is after his degree that he joined the National Council of Trade Unions as a legal advisor. The following year (1982), Ramaphosa started a union for mineworkers. He was arrested and charged with organising or planning to take part in a meeting that was banned.

Ramaphosa was conference organiser in the preparations leading to the formations of the Congress of South African Trade Union (COSATU). He delivered a keynote address at Cosatu’s launch rally in Durban in December 1985. In March 1986 he was part of COSATU’s delegation which met the African National Congress in Lusaka, Zambia

He was elected as the first General Secretary of the union, a position he held until he resigned in June 1991.

Cyril Ramaphosa officially became a candidate for the Deputy Presidency on 17 December 2012 and entered the race with the strong backing of the Zuma Camp. On 18 December 2012, he was elected deputy president of the ANC. Ramaphosa received 3 018 votes, while Mathews Phosa received 470 votes and Tokyo Sexwale received 463 votes.

Wealth

He is regarded as one of South Africa’s richest men, with Forbes estimating his wealth at $675 million.

Family

Cyril Ramaphosa is married to Dr. Tshepo Motsepe and he has four children.