Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Cyril Ramaphosa – President of South Africa

Cyril Ramaphosa is a South African politician currently serving as the fifth president of South Africa. He was born in 1952 to Venda parents.

Firstly, Ramaphosa holds several honorary doctorates awards and international recognitions from more than eight universities across South Africa, USA, Africa and Europe. In 2004 he was voted 34th in the top 100 Great South Africans.

Secondly, Ramaphosa is a passionate farmer. He also loves fishing and has even taught others how to fish. Besides fishing he is passionate about Ankole cattle breeding. As of 2017 he had 100 Ankole breeding cows at his Ntaba Nyoni farm in Mpumalanga.

Thirdly, Ramaphosa is one of the richest presidents in Africa. He has constantly appeared on the top 10 richest presidents on the African continent. He is a business man and is estimated to be worth 450 million dollars, however some claim that he is worth 650 million dollars.

Fourthly, Cyril Ramaphosa is a political and social philanthropist. In 2018 he publicly declared that he was going to to donate half of his salary to charity to honour the late South African president Nelson Mandela. Ramaphosa also founded the Ramaphosa Foundation.

Number five, Ramaphosa refused to live in the state house preferring to stay at his family home where his children lived. As president he was priviledged to stay at the state house.

Number six, when Nelson Mandela was released from prison, Ramaphosa was on the National Reception Committee. Nelson Mandela was impressed by Ramaphosa from that moment.

Number seven, Ramaphosa has been married three times. He has a son from his first marriage. His third and current wife is the sister of businessman Patrice Motsepe. Ramaphosa has five known children.

Number eight, Ramaphosa was amongst the organisers of COSATU to fight Apartheid in South Africa. COSATU is a Congress of South African Trade Unions and Ramaphosa was a key member in the formation of the organisation.

Number nine, he once retired from politics. Ramaphosa started his political career while at University. He quit politics after he lost in the presidential race against Thabo Mbeki. He bounced back in 2012 and became the deputy to Jacob Zuma.

Number ten, Ramaphosa was a weapons inspector for the Irish Republic. In 2000 he was appointed to the independent international commission as an arms inspector responsible for observing the commissioning of weapons.