Name: Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa Born: 17 November 1952 Nationality: South African Alma mater: University of the North, University of Massachusetts (USA), University of Cape Town, University of KwaZuluNatal, University of Port Elizabeth, University of Lesotho, University of the North, University of South Africa Occupation: Deputy President of South Africa Net worth: R5.67-billion
Cyril Ramaphosa W i d e l y re s p e c t e d a s a n e g o t i a t o r a n d s t r a t e g i s t , C y r i l R a m a p h o s a p l a y e d a s i g n i f i c a n t ro l e , a l o n g w i t h R o e l f M e y e r o f t h e r u l i n g N a t i o n a l P a r t y, i n t h e n e g o t i a t i o n s t o b r i n g a b o u t t h e p e a c e f u l e n d t o a p a r t h e i d .
EARLY LIFE Growing up in Soweto in the 1960s and 1970s, Ramaphosa became intimately involved in student politics and joined the South African Students Organisation and the Black People’s Convention. This resulted in him being detained twice, the first time for 11 months in solitary confinement and the second for six months, both times under the auspices of the Terrorism Act. While in detention, Ramaphosa completed his law degree via correspondence through the University of South Africa. After being released he completed his articles with a Johannesburg firm of attorneys, and joined the Council of Unions of South Africa (Cusa) as an advisor in the legal department. Ramaphosa was encourage by Cusa to form a union for mineworkers and in 1982 the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) was born with Ramaphosa as its first secretary. He was the organiser of the preparations for the conference that led to the formation of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu),
76
IMPUMELELO
1 5 TH E D I T I O N 2 0 1 4
delivered the keynote address at Cosatu’s launch rally, and was part of the Cosatu delegation that met with the ANC in Lusaka, Zambia. To say he has had an impact on South Africa as we know it today is a severe understatement. HOW HE MADE HIS MONEY Following his election to Deputy President of South Africa in 2014, Ramaphosa has stepped away from a majority of his business interests. Prior to that he was Executive Chairman of Shanduka Group, which he also founded. The company has investments in the resources, energy, real estate, banking, insurance, and telecoms sectors. He has held Non-Executive Directorships with Macsteel Holdings, Alexander Forbes, and Standard Bank, as well as being the Chairman of The Bidvest Group and MTN. He has previously held a position on the board of SAB Miller.