Cyril Ramaphosa was elected President of South Africa in 2018, and here is everything you need to know about the country’s leader. Here’s Ramaphosa’s net worth and more…
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA
A QUICK LOOK AT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA’S BIOGRAPHY
- Full name: Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
- Date of birth: 17 November 1952
- Place of birth: Soweto, Johannesburg, Gauteng
- Nationality: South African
- Language: Venda
- Age: 70
- Gender: Male
- Parents: Mother–Erdmuth; father–Samuel
- Siblings: Two
- Marital Status: Divorced twice, currently married
- Spouse: Tshepo Motsepe
- Occupation: Politician
RAMAPHOSA’S NET WORTH
ALSO READ: Ramaphosa’s wife, Tshepo Motsepe, to address Africa-Asia conference
In 2015, Forbes reported Ramaphosa made it tp the Africa’s 50 Richest Net Worth list. His net worth was said to be $450 million (an estimated R8.2 billion).
EARLY LIFE
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Ramaphosa attended Tshilidzi Primary School, Sekano Ntoane High School, and matriculated at Mphaphuli High School in 1971. He then registered at the University of the North in Limpopo Province in 1972, where he studied law and got involved in student politics.
In 1974, Ramaphosa reportedly got detained and found himself in solitary confinement for 11 months for pro-FRELIMO rallies and then detained again in 1976.
ALSO READ: Six things you didn’t know about Tshepo Motsepe: SA’s new First Lady
Ramaphosa reportedly worked as a law clerk while continuing his legal studies at the University of South Africa (UNISA).
MARRIAGE
Ramaphosa reportedly got married to his first wife, Hope, in 1979 and divorced in 1989.
He then reportedly married Nomazizi Mtshotshisa, whom he was married to from 1991 to 1993. He is currently married to Tshepo Motsepe, and tied the knot in 1996.
ALSO READ: The first family: Meet President Ramaphosa’s 5 kids [photos]
POLITICS
Ramaphosa reportedly joined the ANC (African National Congress) in 1991 as a secretary general. He was said to have served as the head of the ANC’s delegation during the apartheid negotiations.
By 1994, he reportedly got elected as the chairperson of the constitutional assembly and reelected as the secretary general.
However, in 1996, Ramaphosa was said to have wanted to leave politics behind him and resigned.
ALSO READ: BREAKING: Cyril Ramaphosa declares national state of disaster
He reportedly returned to politics in 2012 and was elected deputy president of the ANC. And, by 2017, Ramaphosa was elected president of the party after running an anti-corruption platform.
However, he later reportedly found himself being criticised for corruption and obstruction of justice in relation to the Phala Phala robbery that took place on his game farm in 2020. Ramaphosa was reportedly accused of kidnapping and bribing the robbers into silence.
ALSO READ: Cyril Ramaphosa vows to fight dirty money after grey listing
BUSINESS
In 2001, Ramaphosa joined the private sector and launched a leading African black-owned and managed investment company named Shanduka Group, My Broad Band reported.
The company reportedly became a black economic empowerment trailblazer and quickly built a comprehensive portfolio of listed and unlisted companies, including brands such as MTN, Coca-Cola, Standard Bank, Alexander Forbes, Liberty Group, Bidvest, and Seacom
Ramaphosa was said to have held many board positions, including chairman of Bidvest, Mondi, and MTN, and non-executive directorships at Macsteel, Alexander Forbes, SABMiller, and Standard Bank.
Last but not least, in March 2011, Ramaphosa reportedly used his excellent connections to make a deal with McDonald’s Corporation and was announced as South Africa’s development licensee. This would mean that Ramaphosa would be responsible for the operation of all McDonald’s franchises in the country.
ALSO READ: NO DEAL: Cyril Ramaphosa shoots down R1 billion plan to sponsor Spurs