Ramaphosa, (Matamela) Cyril (1952– )

South African politician, secretary general of the African National Congress 1991–97. He was a chief negotiator in the constitutional talks with the South African government that brought about a peaceful end to apartheid and led to the first universal suffrage elections in May 1994. He was subsequently elected by parliament to chair the assembly that would write the country's new permanent constitution. He was seen by some as Nelson Mandela's natural successor, but in January 1997, after Thabo Mbeki won the race to become president of South Africa, he resigned from active politics to concentrate on a business career.

Born in Soweto, near Johannesburg, he trained as a lawyer. In 1974 and 1976 he was detained in solitary confinement for 17 months for organizing pro-Frelimo rallies. He built up the National Union of Mineworkers from 1982 into one of the most powerful trade unions in South Africa, with 300,000 members in 1991, when he resigned.