Cyril Ramaphosa

Profession: Activist and President of South Africa

Nationality:

Biography: Before he was President of South Africa in 2018 Cyril Ramaphosa had a long history in politics as an anti-apartheid activist, trade union leader and businessman.

As a young activist Ramaphosa was detained twice for many months under the Terrorist Act. In 1983 he helped found the influential National Union of Mineworkers, becoming its first secretary. In 1991 he was elected secretary-general of the African National Congress and in this role played a major role negotiating Nelson Mandela's release and steering the country towards its first democratic elections. In the subsequent 1994 elections he was elected an MP and chairperson of the New Constitutional Assembly.

After resigning from parliament and the ANC in 1996, he became a successful businessman and became one of the richest men in South Africa. Ramaphosa later rejoined politics becoming Deputy President of the ANC in 2012 and was then appointed Deputy President of the State in 2014 by President Jacob Zuma.

In December 2018 Ramaphosa was elected President of the ANC and in February 2018 elected unopposed as President of South Africa by the National Assembly in February 2018 after the resignation of Jacob Zuma. Ramaphosa led the ANC to re-election in 2019 and the country through the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022 he was the subject of the first state visit held by the new King of the United Kingdom Charles III.

Born: November 17, 1952
Birthplace: Soweto, South Africa
Age: 71 years old

Generation: Baby Boomer
Chinese Zodiac: Dragon
Star Sign: Scorpio