From activist to business, and then to power - Ekonomie - Republikein
Tuesday, August 20th, 22:12:07
Ramaphosa, who became president last year through internal ANC politics, won a popular mandate as the country's leader, opening the latest chapter of a career intertwined with the birth of modern South Africa.
It soon became clear that Mandela saw him as a protege, and Ramaphosa went on to lead talks to end white-minority rule and to help write the new constitution.
But after missing out on becoming Mandela's successor as president, he instead became a hugely wealthy businessman through stakes in McDonalds, Coca-Cola and in the mining and telecommunications sectors.
Ramaphosa, who is relaxed and quietly spoken in public, enjoys a broad support base that crosses some of South Africa's sharp racial and class divides.
"We have made mistakes but we have been sorry about those mistakes and we are saying our people should reinvest their confidence in us," Ramaphosa said as he voted, delivering a rebuke to the Zuma era of ANC government.
Ramaphosa was born on November 17, 1952 in Johannesburg's Soweto township - a centre of the anti-apartheid struggle - to a police sergeant and a domestic worker.
Mandela once described Ramaphosa as one of the most gifted leaders of the "new generation", the young campaigners who filled the void left by their jailed elders.
After studying, Ramaphosa turned to trade unionism - one of the few legal ways of protesting against the white-minority regime.
Ramaphosa's destiny seemed pre-ordained.
Ramaphosa bowed out of politics and became one of the richest businessmen on the continent - reaching number 42 on the Forbes list of Africa's wealthiest people in 2015 with a net worth of US$450 million.
Ramaphosa returned to the political fray in 2012 when he was elected to the ANC's number two post. Two years later, he became deputy president of the nation.
Seen as a pro-business moderate, Ramaphosa has seldom been the target of direct graft accusations himself - but his political ambivalence and vast wealth have led to criticism.
His mastery of political strategy came to a climax last year. He gradually sidelined Zuma's backers and finally forced his resignation.
"But the years he spent at Zuma's side, playing the 'inside game' suggest he is more comfortable as a powerful insider than as a radical reformer." – Nampa/AFP
Buchters woedend oor vervoer van mangaan
Catherine Sasman – Die vervoer van ontblote mangaanerts in oop TransNamib-houers in stormsterkwinde oor die naweek het inwoners van Lüderitz in oproer oor die regering...
NDF-plase: ‘Ek soek my kommissie’
Ronelle Rademeyer - ’n Voormalige werkgewer van mnr. Kurt Steinhasuen, die Duitse gasteplaas-eienaar wat in 2017 sy plase Oropoko en Otjisemba aan die Namibiese weermag...
48 gevalle van mensehandel aangeteken
Tot op hede is 48 gevalle van mensehandel landswyd in Namibië aangeteken. Hiervan is 13 gevalle gefinaliseer, 15 word steeds ondersoek en 20 is op...
Weer vir 20 Augustus 2019
BINNELAND: Sonnig en warm, maar baie warm in die Noorde. Winderige toestande sal oor die binneland voorkom.KUS: Gedeeltelik bewolk en matig tot warm. Dit sal...
Maleisië ontken 'onregverdige optrede' teen Namibiërs
Die Maleisiese departement vir immigrasie ontken beweringe dat twee neefs van die Namibiese hoë kommissaris in daardie land vroeër vandeesmaand onregverdig by die ­Internasionale Lughawe...
Geen Afrika-olifante meer in dieretuine
Francoise Steynberg In 'n geskiedkundige ­verkiesing Sondag by die Konvensie vir die Handel in Bedreigde Spesies (Cites) se 18de beraad (COP18) in die Switserse ...