S.African President Cyril Ramaphosa Celebrates His 73rd Birthday

Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa was born on 17 November 1952 in Johannesburg. In 1962, his family moved to Soweto, where he completed his schooling before pursuing a law degree at the University of the North. He later obtained his B.Proc degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA) in 1981, according to TV BRICS. 

Cyril Ramaphosa was appointed Deputy President of South Africa in 2014 and sworn in as President of the Republic on 15 February 2018. Subsequently, following national and provincial elections, he was re-elected as President on 14 June 2024.

Under Ramaphosa’s leadership, South Africa has strengthened its participation in BRICS, serving as a bridge between the group and the wider African continent.

During his presidency, the country has hosted several BRICS Summits. In 2018, Johannesburg hosted the 10th BRICS Summit under the theme “BRICS in Africa: Collaboration for Inclusive Growth and Shared Prosperity in the 4th Industrial Revolution.” Discussions addressed global governance reform and youth development and promoted the initiative to establish the BRICS Tourism Working Group, recognising the vast potential of this activity for sustainable social and economic development.

Most recently, in 2023, Johannesburg hosted the 15th BRICS Summit themed “BRICS and Africa: Partnership for Mutually Accelerated Growth, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Multilateralism”. The meeting reaffirmed BRICS commitment to inclusive multilateralism and recognised South Africa’s central role in promoting African priorities within the group. Leaders supported greater representation for emerging economies in international institutions, endorsed cooperation in climate and energy transition, and advanced discussions on expanding BRICS membership.

As South Africa continues to strengthen its multilateral engagement, the country is set to host the upcoming G20 Summit on 22–23 November 2025, under its Presidency from 1 December 2024 to 30 November 2025.

According to the official website of South Africa’s G20 Presidency, this year’s summit will embody the spirit of Ubuntu ("I am because we are") as South Africa seeks to promote collective, human-centred solutions to global issues and accelerate progress towards the United Nations 2030 Agenda.