Cyril Ramaphosa

Cyril Ramaphosa, born on November 17, 1952, is a prominent South African politician and businessman who has been serving as the president of South Africa since 2018. His journey began as an anti-apartheid activist and trade union leader, where he gained national recognition as the secretary general of the National Union of Mineworkers, the largest trade union in the country. His leadership during the negotiations that dismantled apartheid positioned him as a key figure in South Africa's transition to democracy.

In 1991, Ramaphosa was elected secretary general of the African National Congress (ANC) under the leadership of Nelson Mandela. He played a crucial role as the ANC's chief negotiator and later chaired the Constitutional Assembly after the first democratic elections in 1994. Despite being seen as Mandela's potential successor, he stepped away from politics in 1996 to pursue a successful business career, which included ownership of McDonald's South Africa and leadership roles in various corporations.

Ramaphosa made a political comeback in December 2012 at the ANC's 53rd National Conference, eventually serving as deputy president of South Africa from 2014 to 2018 under President Jacob Zuma. His election as president of the ANC in December 2017 paved the way for his ascension to the presidency of South Africa in February 2018, following Zuma's resignation. He began his first full term in May 2019 after the ANC's victory in the general elections.

During his presidency, Ramaphosa led South Africa's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and served as chairperson of the African Union from 2020 to 2021. His net worth was estimated to exceed six point four billion rand, equivalent to four hundred fifty million dollars, as of 2018. However, he has faced criticism regarding his business interests and his handling of the Marikana miners' strike.

On December 19, 2022, Ramaphosa was re-elected as president of the ANC at the party's 55th National Conference. Following the ANC's loss of majority in the general election, he was elected to a second term as president of South Africa on June 14, 2024.