Has the credentials but courted controversy

The ANC will conclude its national elective conference on December 20 by electing its 14th president. Some of the candidates who could replace President Jacob Zuma will take the race down to the wire, while others are rank outsiders.we will profile each,

Background Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was born on November

17, 1952 in Johannesburg. His family was moved from Western Native Township to Soweto in 1962, where he attended Tshilidzi Primary School.

He finished high school at Mphaphuli High School in Sibasa, Venda in 1971.

He began his studies at the University of the North in

1972, where he became involved in student politics, joining the South African Student Organisation and the Black People’s Convention.

Ramaphosa was appointed by President Jacob Zuma as Deputy President of South Africa on May 25, 2014.

Family life

Ramaphosa was married to businesswoman Nomazizi Mtshotshisa (now late), but the couple divorced. He later married Dr Tshepo Motsepe, the sister of billionaire and mining magnate Patrice Motsepe. Ramaphosa has four children.

Political involvement He was detained in

1974 for organising profrelimo rallies that were held to celebrate the independence of Mozambique. He was detained for the second time in 1976 following the Soweto student uprising.

He became the first general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers in 1982.

In 1991, he was elected the ANC secretary-general and subsequently became head of the ANC team that negotiated the transition to democracy.

Following the country’s first democratic elections in

1994, Ramaphosa was elected chairman of the Constitutional Assembly, which wrote South Africa’s new democratic constitution.

He moved into the private sector in 1996, and in 2001 founded Shanduka Group, a diversified investment holding company.

He resigned from Shanduka in 2012 after he was appointed the country’s deputy president.

State capture

Ramaphosa said there was a growing perception that South Africa was a corrupt state and that it was shameful that foreign institutions like the FBI were investigating allegations of state capture before South Africa could start the probe.

He called on the Hawks and National Prosecuting Authority to investigate state capture. He described the country’s economy as broken and blamed state capture for destroying most of it.

He has repeatedly called for an urgent commission of inquiry into state capture, describing the country’s current situation as a very dark period of democracy. He said that state capture was destroying the ANC.

Radical economic transformation

Ramaphosa believes that radical economic transformation is needed to fundamentally alter the racial and gender composition of the ownership, control and management of our economy.

He said that, in essence, it meant building an equal society through sustained, inclusive growth.

“We need a South African economy that truly reflects the composition, diversity and interests of the South African people,” he once wrote in an opinion piece.

However, he warned that if the country was to progress as a democratic nation, the people needed to ensure that they were not distracted or sidetracked by the misuse of the term.

He said that focused attention needed to be given to the real substance of radical economic transformation and the steps that needed to be taken to achieve it.

“Now, more than ever, we need to work together on practical measures to turn around the South African economy.

“Now, more than ever, the social partners need to define a common programme for growth and work tirelessly to implement it. Now, more than ever, we need the CEOS Initiative to bring government, business and labour together to create jobs.”

Achievements

Ramaphosa holds a law degree from Unisa. He has received several honorary doctorates from local and international universities. He received the Olof Palme prize in Stockholm in 1987 for International Understanding and Common Security.

He was awarded the National Order of the Baobab in Silver in 2009 for his contribution to multiparty negotiations and for chairing the Constitutional Assembly.

He was also deputy chairman of South Africa’s National Planning Commission.

In December 2012, he was elected deputy president of the ruling ANC.

Businessman

Ramaphosa has held notable interests in companies such as Mcdonald’s South Africa, chairman of the board for MTN, and member of the board for Lonmin.

He has also been widely criticised for the conduct of his business interests, although he has never been indicted for illegal activities despite these controversies.

Controversial business dealings include: acting as chairman of the MTN Group amid the Irancell scandal when that organisation allegedly bribed officials in Iran; his joint venture with Glencore and allegations of benefiting illegally from coal deals with Eskom which he has staunchly denied, during which Glencore was in the public spotlight for its activities involving Tony Blair in the Middle East; and his employment on the board of directors of Lonmin when the Marikana massacre took place on Lonmin’s premises.