Cyril Ramaphosa’s Re-election: Salary and Financial Impact
Last month, Cyril Ramaphosa’s Re-election got to keep his super-important job as the president of South Africa for another 5 years. He is one of the most powerful leaders in all of Africa. I was curious about the Average salary in South Africa and if this victory would make Ramaphosa richer. In this casual blog, I’ll look at how much the president earns and see if he got a boost from winning again.
Many thought Ramaphosa might lose power since his party, the ANC, didn’t get as many votes in the May election this year. They used to always win by a lot. But at the last minute, the ANC worked out a deal with their biggest rivals, the DA party. This helped Ramaphosa get the most votes needed to stay president. Even though the ANC working with the DA is weird and new, it means the country won’t change leaders now during these hard times. Let’s dive into how being re-elected impacts Ramaphosa’s bank account.
Figuring Out How Much President Cyril Ramaphosa Makes?
As the top boss of South Africa, you’d think the president would get paid a lot. Reports say Ramaphosa will make around $233,500 this year for his job. That’s over $19,000 each month!
Now, that does sound like a ton of money. But we have to remember being president is no easy task. Ramaphosa has to lead the whole country and its economy, which is worth over $280 billion dollars. Leading South Africa is especially hard right now since so many people lost their jobs during COVID-19. Nearly 35% of South Africans can’t find work! So, there is pressure on Ramaphosa to deliver on his promise of creating more jobs.
When you think about all that responsibility, does $233,500 seem like too much? Only time will tell if savvy businessman Ramaphosa can turn things around. Or will the high expectations be too high? One thing is for sure – even if things get political, at least he has a good cushion of cash to fall back on every month from his paycheck!
Estimating the President’s Overall Net Worth
While the annual presidential paycheck is generous, one presumes Cyril Ramaphosa’s net worth extends far beyond his government salary. Let’s delve a bit deeper into estimating what his overall net worth could be:
Cyril Ramaphosa’s net worth (pre-presidency): As a highly successful entrepreneur with stakes in mining, franchising, and more, Ramaphosa was already worth an estimated $600-800 million prior to taking office in 2018.
Real estate portfolio: Reports suggest the president and his family own lavish properties across South Africa estimated to be worth over $30 million alone.
Other business assets: Ramaphosa still retains shares and directorships in various companies. Recent disclosures value this non-liquid asset portfolio at $150 million.
Political connections: Being such an influential figure, his network of contacts in business and politics over the decades must be worth its weight in gold.
Conservatively putting all the above together (and assuming modest annual appreciation), this author estimates President Cyril Ramaphosa’s total net worth today to be in the ballpark of $950-1.1 billion. Not a bad nest egg to retire on, even if his second presidential term does not pan out perfectly!
Will Cyril Ramaphosa’s Re-election Impact His Political Fundraising?
For any ambitious politician, fundraising is a crucial aspect of sustaining their career in the long run. In Ramaphosa’s case, his re-election as ANC leader and South African President is likely to come as a boost for his campaign contribution efforts going forward.
Some of the key ways his re-election may positively impact political fundraising are:
Increased Donor Confidence – With the uncertainty around his leadership put to rest, big-money donors both domestic and foreign may feel more assured in opening their wallets knowing Ramaphosa is in charge for the foreseeable future.
Leveraging Incumbency – As the incumbent, Ramaphosa can better tap into the ANC’s fundraising machinery as well as exploit events/initiatives undertaken as part of his presidential duties to solicit contributions..
Stable Leadership Pitch – The message that a second term brings leadership continuity will be an easier sell to those open to supporting his political agenda financially.
Network Expansion – New allies formed with coalition partners like the DA present fresh opportunities to broaden his fundraising base beyond traditional ANC backers.
In summary, while actual numbers are speculative, most signs point to Cyril Ramaphosa’s political contributions in the years to come as re-election significantly boosted his capacity. Only time will tell how judiciously he spends this funding to advance his vision for South Africa.
In Closing
In this detailed analysis, we examined the financial implications of President Cyril Ramaphosa securing a second term in office. From unpacking Cyril Ramaphosa’s salary in 2024, the annual presidential and estimating his impressive personal net worth to exploring how his re-election may increase political fundraising – this article provided valuable insights across multiple dimensions.
While the challenges ahead for Ramaphosa and his unique ANC-led coalition government are immense, at least he has the assurance of financial security. Both personal wealth accumulated over decades of business success as well as a handsome government paycheck and expanded contribution base provide a strong safety net. Of course, it all comes down to effectively channeling these economic resources toward empowering South Africans and putting the nation on a path of inclusive growth and job creation.
If Ramaphosa is able to deliver a tangible impact and make a positive difference in citizen’s lives over the next half-decade, both his legacy and South Africa’s future will be secure. Here’s wishing him the very best in realizing that vision. In the meanwhile, for any South Africans struggling financially, do check out Sassa & loans for helpful guides on social grants, loans, or bursaries that could provide some relief. Until next time, cheers!