Cyril Ramaphosa
- Known for
- President of South Africa, anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader
- Born in
- Johannesburg, South Africa
- Education
- Bachelor of Procurationis (B. Proc.), Stanford University
Cyril Ramaphosa is a pivotal figure in South African politics, transitioning from a powerful anti-apartheid activist and trade union leader to the President of South Africa since 2018. Defined by a career that spans labor organizing, significant business success, and ANC leadership, his tenure has focused on economic renewal amid persistent governance challenges.
Signature Positions
Ramaphosa’s leadership has been marked by specific domestic and foreign policy priorities:
- Land Reform: Prioritizes amending the constitution to allow for expropriation of land without compensation, aiming to encourage economic growth.
- ANC Renewal: Committed to an anti-corruption platform, spearheading an internal renewal project that includes enforcing a step-aside rule for accused members.
- Foreign Policy: Strives for African unity, supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area while maintaining a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict to facilitate mediation efforts.
- Economic Policy: Focuses on industrialization and investment, raising the electricity generation threshold for private companies to address the energy crisis.
Notable Tensions
Ramaphosa’s political career is complicated by significant controversies and perceived contradictions:
- Marikana Massacre: Criticized for his role as a Lonmin director in calling for 'concomitant action' against striking miners shortly before the massacre, an event he later expressed regret over.
- Business Interests: His transition to a wealthy businessman, including stakes in Lonmin and Glencore, draws scrutiny, especially regarding Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) dealings.
- Phala Phala: Faced impeachment attempts over allegations stemming from a robbery at his Phala Phala farm, involving large sums of foreign cash and accusations of obstruction of justice.
- Corruption: While campaigning against corruption, his CR17 campaign received controversial donations, leading to allegations he misled Parliament.
As the leader of the ANC, Ramaphosa inherited a fractured party following Jacob Zuma’s tenure, earning international praise for his steady handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. His political survival has hinged on navigating internal party factions and balancing economic reform with calls for radical change.
