Cyril Ramaphosa

Also known as: president Cyril Ramaphosa · President Ramaphosa · South African president Cyril Ramaphosa · current President Cyril Ramaphosa · CR17 · weak-kneed South African president Cyril Ramaphosa · deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa · acting president Cyril Ramaphosa · Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa · Ramphosa · SADC Chairperson and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa

South African President who co-chaired bilateral commission with Namibia and faces impeachment inquiry over Phala Phala allegations.

2018-02-022026-07-23

What’s been said

Key points drawn from coverage. Tap a point to see the original sentence.

November 2025
9 NovThe Namibian
Cyril Ramaphosa assumed interim chairmanship of SADC
Source
“South African president Cyril Ramaphosa has assumed the interim chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) after Madagascar stepped down from the position amid political turmoil.”
Ramaphosa assumes SADC chairmanship as bloc congratulates Tanzania’s Samia Hassan
8 NovThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa said 17 South African men were lured to join mercenary forces under pretext of lucrative employment
Source
“President Cyril Ramaphosa said the South African men aged between 20 and 39 were lured to join mercenary forces "under the pretext of lucrative employment contracts" and had issued distress calls after becoming trapped in the Donbas area of Ukraine.”
Over 1 400 Africans recruited to fight for Russia in war – Ukrainian minister
8 NovThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced new law in January seeking to address land ownership disparities
Source
“Tensions first arose between the US and SA after president Cyril Ramaphosa introduced a new law in January seeking to address land ownership disparities, which have left three-quarters of privately owned land in the hands of the white minority more than three decades after the end of apartheid.”
Trump says US to boycott SA G20 summit over white ‘genocide’
October 2025
31 OctThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa was confronted by Trump and claimed white farmers in his nation were being killed and persecuted
Source
“In the Oval Office in May, Trump confronted South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and claimed white farmers in his nation were being killed and "persecuted".”
Trump caps refugee admissions at record low – with most to be white South Africans
24 OctThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Alistair Ruiters as investment adviser since April
Source
“Ruiters (61), President Cyril Ramaphosa's investment adviser since April and a former director-general of trade and industry, seems to be enjoying widening support across different sectors of South Africa to get the toughest job in South African diplomacy — that of "normalising" SA relations with the cantankerous Trump administration.”
‘Our greatest asset’ — Alistair Ruiters is hot favourite to be SA’s next ambassador to US
8 OctThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa loosened party funding laws, doubling declaration threshold
Source
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has loosened party funding laws, lessening transparency by doubling the declaration threshold from R100,000 to R200,000.”
ANC’s R1bn in public funds at risk as insolvency beckons
September 2025
24 SeptThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa told the United Nations General Assembly trade is now being used as a weapon against countries
Source
“President Cyril Ramaphosa told the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on Tuesday, 23 September, that "trade is now being used as a weapon against a number of countries," in an ostensible rebuke of US President Donald Trump's tariffs.”
‘Trade now being used as a weapon,’ Ramaphosa tells UN in jab at Trump tariffs
24 SeptThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa may have to appear before the Madlanga Commission following claims by Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola
Source
“Following claims made by Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa may have to appear before the Madlanga Commission, while Parliament's inquiry into South Africa's policing also potentially has him in its sights.”
Dithering Ramaphosa may have to testify before policing inquiries
23 SeptThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the groundswell of support for the establishment of Palestine
Source
“Congratulating Macron on the decision, President Cyril Ramaphosa welcomed the "demonstrable groundswell of support for the establishment of the much-awaited state of Palestine".”
France, Canada and the UK recognise a Palestinian state – why it matters
22 SeptThe Namibian
President Cyril Ramaphosa was informed of an unusual cash transaction for R8-million on 26 December 2019
Source
“Following the transaction, he did not issue an invoice for the sale, but rather drafted a document acknowledging receipt of the funds that he later placed in a safe. The animals, however, were not taken by the buyer on that day. He told the court that the next day, on 26 December, when Ramaphosa briefly visited the farm en route to Cape Town for a holiday, he informed the president of the transaction.”
R8m cash stash at Phala Phala — Who knew what, and when?

Business

Namibia invites businesses to Turkish trade mission in Windhoek

The News

The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has invited Namibian businesses and companies with investment-ready projects to participate in an upcoming Namibia–Türkiye Trade Mission aimed at strengthening trade and investment links. The mission will bring together local companies and Turkish trade and investment delegates for business-to-business and business-to-government engagements in renewable energy, textiles, fisheries, infrastructure, education, water purification, automotive, and tourism sectors.

21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 21 July

Namibia invites businesses to Turkish trade mission in Windhoek
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has invited Namibian businesses and companies with investment-ready projects to participate in an upcoming Namibia–Türkiye Trade Mission aimed at strengthening trade and investment links. The mission will bring together local companies and Turkish trade and investment delegates for business-to-business and business-to-government engagements in renewable energy, textiles, fisheries, infrastructure, education, water purification, automotive, and tourism sectors.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Namibia hosts trade mission with Turkish investors and businesses
The Namibia Investment Promotion and Development Board has invited Namibian businesses with investment-ready projects to participate in a Namibia–Türkiye Trade Mission in Windhoek, coordinated with Turkish trade and investment delegations for B2B and B2G engagements across renewable energy, textiles, fisheries, infrastructure, education, water purification, automotive, and tourism sectors.
21 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 20 July

Namibia-South Africa Orange River border dispute remains unresolved
Namibia and South Africa failed to resolve their decades-old dispute over the Orange River boundary during the fourth Binational Commission in Pretoria. Namibia contends the border should run through the middle of the river under modern international law, while South Africa maintains it follows the northern bank under the 1890 Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty; President Nandi-Ndaitwah said the matter will now be handled directly with South African President Ramaphosa.
20 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia, South Africa prioritise implementation of bilateral agreements
Presidents Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and Cyril Ramaphosa concluded the Fourth Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission, ordering officials to move from treating agreements as paperwork to delivering tangible projects. The countries agreed to introduce a digital balance scorecard system to track implementation, with defined timelines and accountability measures.
20 July 2026 · New Era →

Sunday 19 July

Namibia and South Africa sign seven cooperation agreements
Namibia and South Africa signed seven bilateral agreements during the fourth Bi-National Commission in Pretoria, covering labour, aviation, justice, correctional services, public administration, gender equality and business. The two countries also reaffirmed commitment to cooperation in energy, mining, transport, agriculture, water, public healthcare and regional integration, including acceleration of the Kudu Gas Power Project.
19 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Friday 17 July

Ramaphosa urges Namibia, SA to add value to raw materials
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called on Namibia and South Africa to move beyond exporting raw materials, saying the two countries must stop "exporting opportunities while importing prosperity" and instead build regional value chains through beneficiation and industrialisation to create employment.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Namibia, South Africa commit to deeper economic cooperation
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa co-chaired the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Pretoria, where the two countries committed to strengthening economic cooperation, expanding trade and investment, and advancing joint development initiatives in areas including energy security and infrastructure development.
17 July 2026 · Informanté →
Venaani calls on president to address Orange River border dispute
PDM leader McHenry Venaani has urged President Nandi-Ndaitwah to use her visit to South Africa to push for resolution of the long-standing Orange River boundary dispute with South Africa. Venaani says the dispute has remained unresolved since independence and requires urgent political attention, and that he has tabled a motion in the National Assembly calling for the matter to be debated.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Orange River boundary dispute persists despite Namibia-SA talks
The long-standing Orange River boundary dispute between Namibia and South Africa remains unresolved despite renewed commitments and bilateral engagement. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah expressed hope the issue will be resolved urgently to provide legal certainty for future generations at the closing of the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Pretoria.
17 July 2026 · Informanté →
Nandi-Ndaitwah urges deeper Namibia-South Africa cooperation on energy, trade
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah called for deeper economic cooperation between Namibia and South Africa in energy, trade and regional development while opening the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission Summit in Pretoria, and urged resolution of the long-standing Orange River boundary issue.
17 July 2026 · Informanté →
Ramaphosa seeks court halt to impeachment inquiry
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked the High Court for an urgent interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing the inquiry would cause him irreparable harm and humiliation. The court heard two days of arguments in Cape Town, with the impeachment stemming from a Section 89 panel report finding he had a case to answer over the theft of $580,000 in cash from his game farm.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South African President Ramaphosa seeks to halt impeachment inquiry
Cyril Ramaphosa is applying to the High Court for an interdict to stop impeachment proceedings against him over the Phala Phala allegations, arguing that a public inquiry would cause irreparable harm to his reputation. The impeachment stems from a Section 89 independent panel's finding that Ramaphosa had a case to answer regarding the theft of $580,000 in cash hidden at his game farm.
17 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Thursday 16 July

South Africa reports N$19.5 billion Namibia investment since 2023
South African companies invested approximately US$1.2 billion (about N$19.5 billion) in Namibia between 2023 and 2025, creating around 4,900 jobs, according to the South African Presidency ahead of a Bi-National Commission summit between the two countries.
16 July 2026 · Informanté →
President Nandi-Ndaitwah heads to South Africa for bilateral summit
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah has departed for Pretoria to co-chair the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission (BNC) Summit with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Friday, concluding a week of bilateral engagements between the two governments.
16 July 2026 · Informanté →
Namibia, South Africa meet to deepen 150 bilateral agreements
Presidents Nandi-Ndaitwah and Ramaphosa are set to meet in Pretoria to co-chair the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission, with directives expected to strengthen trade, investment, border management, infrastructure and energy cooperation between the two countries. Several new agreements and memoranda of understanding are also expected to be signed.
16 July 2026 · New Era →
Court hears opposition to Ramaphosa's bid to halt impeachment
The Western Cape High Court heard arguments from opposition parties who urged the court to reject President Ramaphosa's urgent interdict to prevent Parliament's impeachment committee from starting proceedings against him over the Phala Phala saga. The ATM, EFF, MK, and UAT parties argued that granting the interdict would encroach on Parliament's authority.
16 July 2026 · The Namibian →
Nandi-Ndaitwah, Ramaphosa to co-chair bilateral summit July 2026
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will co-chair the Fourth Session of the Namibia-South Africa Bi-National Commission in Pretoria on 17 July 2026, with discussions focused on trade, investment, infrastructure, energy and regional cooperation. The BNC serves as the highest permanent bilateral cooperation mechanism between the two countries, supported by more than 150 agreements covering political, diplomatic, economic, social, defence and security cooperation.
16 July 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 14 July

Trump policy lets 7,727 South African refugees into US
The United States admitted 7,727 people as refugees over several months, nearly all from South Africa, under a Trump administration policy, while immigrants from other countries already legally in America have struggled to obtain work authorization and other benefits.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →
South African anti-corruption chief faces presidential scrutiny
Andrea Johnson, head of South Africa's Investigating Directorate Against Corruption, failed to testify at the Madlanga Commission after submitting a medical certificate, drawing scrutiny from President Cyril Ramaphosa who appointed her. A whistleblower alleged Johnson improperly shared evidence with General Feroz Khan.
14 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 13 July

South Africa deports 53,000 foreign nationals in migration campaign
South Africa says more than 53,000 foreign nationals have been deported or repatriated in five weeks since launching a "migration management" campaign, mostly from Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, amid anti-immigration protests demanding tighter border controls.
13 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Monday 6 July

South Africa's temporary processing centre holds thousands near Zimbabwe border
South Africa has built a "temporary repatriation processing centre" outside Musina, near the Zimbabwe border, holding approximately 10,000 foreign nationals—predominantly Malawian and Zimbabwean—who are waiting for safe passage after fleeing xenophobic violence. The Namibian characterises the camp as a hidden humanitarian crisis resulting from state failures in political accountability, immigration management, and counter-misinformation efforts.
6 July 2026 · The Namibian →

Wednesday 1 July

Former PM Angula rejects calls for anti-immigrant protests
Former Prime Minister Nahas Angula said the ministry of home affairs, immigration, safety and security is capable of dealing with illegal immigrants, rejecting calls for anti-immigrant protests similar to those in South Africa. The statement came after NUDO MP Vetaruhe Kandorozu called for nationwide protests against illegal immigrants and foreign workers in sectors including diamond polishing, mining, and transportation.
1 July 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Tuesday 30 June

Ramaphosa warns South Africans against intimidating migrants
President Cyril Ramaphosa has urged anti-migrant protesters to act without "intimidation, threats or ultimatums" ahead of an unofficial deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa. Several thousand African migrants have already departed in recent weeks amid escalating protests, while more than three million documented foreign nationals remain in the country.
30 June 2026 · The Namibian →
SACU approves N$5 billion regional fund for industrial development
The Southern African Customs Union Heads of State approved a SACU Regional Innovative Funding Mechanism with an initial capitalisation of N$5 billion over the 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years, directed toward development projects across member states as part of a broader commitment to regional integration and industrial development.
30 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →

Monday 29 June

SACU leaders approve R5 billion regional development fund
Southern African Customs Union leaders, including President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, have approved establishment of a R5 billion regional development fund to finance cross-border industrial and infrastructure projects across all five member states. The fund will be financed from the SACU Common Revenue Pool during the 2027/28 and 2028/29 financial years.
29 June 2026 · New Era →
SACU revenue crucial but Namibia must strengthen regional competitiveness
SACU has been a significant economic pillar for Namibia since independence, with annual customs revenue supporting education, healthcare, and infrastructure. However, as global trade patterns shift and powerful economies pursue bilateral agreements with individual African nations, SACU members face pressure to maintain collective negotiating strength and adapt to ensure regional competitiveness beyond revenue dependency.
29 June 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Crime Intelligence officer shot in Johannesburg, investigated as attempted assassination
South African Police Service reports that Crime Intelligence officer Feroz Khan was shot in Houghton, Johannesburg, in what police are investigating as an attempted assassination. The shooting occurred the week Khan was scheduled to testify before the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry.
29 June 2026 · The Namibian →

Sunday 28 June

SADC to hold virtual summit on Madagascar political crisis
The Southern African Development Community will convene an extraordinary virtual summit on Monday to discuss the political and security situation in Madagascar, which has faced renewed political tension, governance disputes, and electoral and security challenges in recent months.
28 June 2026 · Informanté →

Friday 26 June

SACU approves N$5 billion fund, pursues AGOA extension
Southern African Customs Union leaders, including Namibia's president, approved a N$5 billion Regional Innovative Funding Mechanism to support development projects across member states and called for a 15-year extension of the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act beyond December 2026 to protect market access and jobs.
26 June 2026 · Informanté →

Tuesday 23 June

South Africa police deploy R600m operation ahead of 30 June protests
South Africa's acting police minister Firoz Cachalia announced a special operation costing more than R600m to counter anti-immigrant unrest, warning that violence and armed participation in 30 June protests will not be tolerated, though peaceful protest remains a constitutional right.
23 June 2026 · The Namibian →