About us
Who We Are
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation is an independent non-profit organisation with Public Benefit Organisation status, established in 2004.
For over two decades, the Foundation has advanced development initiatives that address systemic socioeconomic challenges across South Africa. Our work focuses on strengthening education, enabling youth development, supporting entrepreneurship, and promoting social cohesion and community resilience.
We operate as a philanthropic funder and strategic partner. Rather than delivering programmes directly, we establish, fund, and guide our specialised entities that implement high-impact initiatives on the ground.
Through this model, we ensure strong governance, long-term sustainability, and measurable outcomes.
Our Mandate
The Foundation exists to foster an inclusive and empowered society.
We do this by:
Funding and strengthening dedicated development entities
Supporting scalable, evidence-based models
Building partnerships across business, civil society, and government
Ensuring accountability and measurable impact
Our role is both strategic and catalytic. We create the conditions for effective programme delivery and support the growth of institutions capable of long-term transformation.
Our History
Since its establishment in 2004, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation has grown into a leading development organisation focused on creating opportunities and advancing inclusive growth in South Africa.
Over more than 22 years, the Foundation has expanded its reach through a network of partner entities that address education, entrepreneurship development and social empowerment. Through these initiatives, the Foundation has helped thousands of learners, students, entrepreneurs and communities access opportunities that improve lives and strengthen the country’s future.
The timeline below highlights key milestones in the Foundation’s journey and the growth of its programmes and impact.
- The Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET) is formally established.
- Cyril Ramaphosa is contacted by his former primary school in Soweto to donate a fax machine. He is motivated to rally support to address the needs of more schools.
Cyril Ramaphosa founds the Shanduka Group. A 5% shareholding is set aside for two trusts – Fundani, an educational trust, and Mabindu, a small business development trust.
Adopt-a-School is officially established by Cyril Ramaphosa and James Motlatsi.
The Foundation is formally launched, with CRET and Adopt-a-School as integral programmes.
The Foundation provides its first business loan and mentoring of small businesses begins.
- Adopt-a-School begins to offer its holistic school development model, Whole School Development.
- The Foundation partners with Black Umbrellas and invests R5.2 million to scale the programme.
- Adopt-a-School adopts its 100th school.
- The Foundation is runner up in the ‘’Best Social Responsibility’’ category of the Africa Business Awards.
- The Foundation wins 2nd place in the CSI category of the Business Times Top 100 Companies survey.
- Black Umbrellas wins the ‘’Companies Doing Most for Black Economic Empowerment’’ category in the Professional Management Review (PMR) Awards.
- The Foundation partners with Kagiso Trust to form KST, which signs a matched-funding partnership with the Free State Department of Education to implement Whole School Development at a district level.
- Black Umbrellas wins the Impumelelo Award as ‘’Social Entrepreneur of the Year’’, and is runner-up in the Mail & Guardian Investing in the Future Awards.
- The Foundation celebrates 10 years.
- The Shanduka Foundation is constituted as Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, an independent Public Benefit Organisation.
- Black Umbrellas wins the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) Randall M. Whaley Incubator of the Year Award, presented in Washington, USA
- Black Umbrella achieves R1 billion in combined turnover by its incubator clients.
- Free State province achieves the highest matric pass rate in the country.
- Black Umbrellas reaches R2 billion in combined turnover of its small business clients.
- The Foundation launches the Thari Programme pilot.
- Free State province achieves the highest matric pass rate for the second year, with Fezile Dabi District the best performing district in the country.
- Fezile Dabi District is the highest performing district in the country for a second year running.
- Donnè Nicol resigns as CEO of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation to take up the position of Special Advisor to the President of South Africa.
- Mmabatho Maboya is appointed CEO of Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation.
- The Foundation celebrates its 15th anniversary.
- KST is extended by a further five years following a funding partnership with the First Rand Empowerment Fund
- Black Umbrellas is the recipient of the 2019 International Business Innovation Association (InBIA) awards for the second time.
- Free State province achieves the highest matric pass rate.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa becomes Patron of Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation.
- Dr Tshepo Motsepe is appointed Chairperson of Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation
- Motheo District debuts in the top 10 districts in the 2020 NSC examinations.
- Free State province achieves the highest matric pass rate.
- Motheo and Fezile Dabi achieve the second and third best district matric results nationally.
- Black Umbrellas launches its Virtual Incubator offerings.
- Adopt-a-School marks its 20th
- Over 700,000 learners have benefited from Whole School Development since inception.
- KST supported Mothe District achieves the Free State province’s highest district results with a pass rate of 87.9%.
- The Public Sector Leaders magazine notes Black Umbrellas as a ‘’top 4 programme unlocking youth potential in South Africa’’.
- The Thari Programme holds its 2nd Biennial Conference in Botshabelo, Free State
- KST successfully concludes its pilot of the District Whole School Development model in Fezile Dabi and Motheo in the Free State
- 22 CRET students graduate – including in medicine and surgery, international relations, shipping and logistics, and environmental management
- The Free State is again the top-performing region, boasting an 89% matric pass rate. Motheo is the second best performing district, and Fezile Dabi ranks in the top ten.
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation marks its 20th anniversary!
Our Strategic Focus Areas
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation focuses its work on areas that drive meaningful, long-term change in South Africa. Through its partner entities and collaborative programmes, the Foundation addresses systemic challenges while building opportunity, resilience and inclusive growth.
Education
Strengthening programmes that address literacy, numeracy and STEM education while advancing SAFE sanitation initiatives in disadvantaged schools.
Youth Development
Expanding vocational training and career guidance initiatives, ensuring alignment with current and future market demands.
Small Business Support
Strengthening entrepreneurial programmes with a focus on readiness, resilience and growth for black-owned enterprises.
Women and Children
Advancing the work of the Thari Programme through a comprehensive business case and strengthening the positioning of women and children within the Foundation’s broader development agenda.
Social Cohesion and Nation Building
Promoting the Founder’s values of equality, dignity and shared prosperity through initiatives that address systemic poverty, inequality and climate change.
Sustainability
Enhancing financial models and diversifying funding sources to support the Foundation’s long-term impact and sustainability.
Reputation and Positioning
Strengthening monitoring, evaluation and research capabilities through improved data analysis and evidence-based reporting to demonstrate impact and inform future programmes.
Governance and Leadership
The Foundation is governed by a Board committed to integrity, accountability, and long-term impact. Our leadership team works closely with our partner entities to ensure strategic alignment, operational oversight, and responsible stewardship of resources.
Board members
President Cyril Ramaphosa
Patron, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation
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Dr James Motlatsi
Executive Chairman of Teba Limited
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Dr Tshepo Motsepe
Chairperson, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation
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Mr Matshela Seshibe
Board Member
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Mr Raj Govender
Board Member
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Ms Donné Nicol
Board Member
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Ms Phuti Mahanyele-Dabengwa
Deputy Chairperson, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation
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Ms Yvonne Themba
Board Member
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Executives
Banyana Mohajane
Programmes Executive
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Chantelle Oosthuizen
Executive Director for Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET)
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Melanie Spencer
Chief Operations Officer (COO) at Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation
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Steven Lebere
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Adopt-a-School Foundation
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Cyril Madiba
Chief Financial Officer At Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation
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Climate Commitment
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation has signed the South African Climate Philanthropy Pledge. Climate resilience is embedded within our broader development mission, recognising the growing impact of environmental pressures on vulnerable communities.
We continue to integrate climate responsibility into programme design and long-term planning.
PARTNER WITH US
Join Us in Strengthening Impact
With over two decades of programme development, strong governance, and established implementation partners, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation offers a credible platform for collaborative development.
If you are a donor institution, government department, civil society organisation, or corporate partner seeking measurable and sustainable outcomes, we invite you to connect with us.
