Cyril Ramaphosa
Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African politician and businessman serving as President of South Africa since February 2018. A former anti-apartheid activist and trade union leader who founded the National Union of Mineworkers, he became ANC Secretary-General in 1991 before losing the ANC presidency succession to Thabo Mbeki in 1999. He then spent fifteen years building a vast business empire through Shanduka Group, his BEE investment vehicle, before returning to politics as Deputy President in 2014.
In his business career, Ramaphosa amassed interests in MTN, McDonald’s South Africa, Lonmin, Standard Bank, Coca-Cola SA and other entities through Shanduka. By 2014, Shanduka was worth more than R20 billion. He divested on becoming Deputy President to remove conflicts of interest. In November 2017, Shanduka was named in the Paradise Papers for allegedly offshoring profits from a Mozambique energy deal via Mauritius through Investec.
Ramaphosa has been linked to Bosasa (African Global Operations) through an alleged R500,000 donation made by Bosasa to his 2017 ANC presidential campaign. He submitted an affidavit to the Zondo Commission acknowledging the donation but characterising it as a legitimate campaign contribution. The Zondo Commission’s final report also found he “fell short” in fighting corruption at PRASA (Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa) during his tenure as Deputy President.
The Phala Phala Wildlife farm scandal (2022) nearly ended his presidency. Former spy chief Arthur Fraser filed a criminal complaint in June 2022 alleging Ramaphosa had concealed the theft of US580,000) and said the money was from legitimate buffalo sales. A Section 89 parliamentary panel found prima facie evidence of serious misconduct; Parliament voted 214–148 against impeachment proceedings in December 2022. The NPA declined to prosecute in October 2024, citing insufficient evidence.
Connections
- Shanduka Group — founder and executive chairman, 2001–2015; divested on becoming Deputy President
- Bosasa (African Global Operations) — alleged R500,000 campaign donation, 2017; denied by Ramaphosa, confirmed by Bosasa COO Angelo Agrizzi
- Phala Phala Wildlife — owner; site of 2020 theft scandal and 2022 criminal complaint by Arthur Fraser
- Arthur Fraser — Fraser filed criminal complaint against Ramaphosa June 1, 2022; Ramaphosa had appointed Fraser as National Commissioner of Correctional Services
- Zondo Commission — testified; criticised by commission for failing to support anti-corruption efforts at PRASA
- Jacob Zuma — succeeded as ANC president December 2017; informed of Zuma’s medical parole Sept 2021
- Gupta Family — met Gupta brothers December 2012; present when Guptas requested ANC help with frozen bank accounts