Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation

18/08/2026

"The Siyakhula Programme found me a mentor who was able to help me in terms of my leadership... growing my business as a female entrepreneur." — Bveladzani Makhado

Mentorship can be the catalyst that transforms ambition into sustainable business growth.

For women entrepreneurs, having access to the right guidance, networks and support can build confidence, strengthen leadership and unlock new opportunities for growth.

This Women's Month, we celebrate entrepreneurs like Bveladzani Makhado, whose journey demonstrates how investing in women through mentorship and enterprise development creates stronger businesses, stronger leaders and stronger communities.

Black Umbrellas

12/08/2026

Education creates pathways that extend far beyond the classroom.

For young women, access to education and holistic support can help build confidence, independence, leadership, and future readiness.

Through its partner entities, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation supports work that helps young people pursue their studies, develop their potential, and prepare for meaningful participation in society.

This is how opportunity becomes long-term empowerment.

11/08/2026

“We wear so many hats. I’m a student, a mother, a wife, an entrepreneur, and I work full time. We can do it because we are women.” — Yonela Phanyaza, Adept Domestic

Women entrepreneurs continue to demonstrate that leadership is shaped by determination, ambition and the willingness to create opportunity.

Through Black Umbrellas, women-led businesses are supported with the mentorship, business development and networks needed to grow sustainably and contribute to South Africa's economy.

This Women's Month, we celebrate entrepreneurs like Yonela Phanyaza, whose journey reminds us that when women are empowered to lead, they create opportunities that extend far beyond their own businesses.

09/08/2026

05/08/2026

When women entrepreneurs are supported, the impact extends beyond individual businesses.

Through enterprise development, women are able to strengthen their businesses, build confidence, access guidance, and contribute to inclusive economic participation.

Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, through its partner entities, supports pathways that help entrepreneurs move from potential to progress.

This is how enterprise development contributes to opportunity, resilience, and long-term inclusion.

04/08/2026

Mandela Day is a reminder that meaningful change is built through action, service, and shared responsibility.

Through its partner entity Adopt-a-School Foundation, Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation marked Mandela Day by contributing to work that supports schools, learners, and communities.

The day reflected the importance of showing up where support is needed and working together to help create environments where young people can learn, grow, and imagine new possibilities.

This is how collective action continues to build a dynamic, inclusive, and empowered society.

30/07/2026

Twenty-one years ago, a young man from a family that had never sent a child to university applied for a bursary and was turned down more than once. When Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET) finally said yes, it changed the course of his life.

Today, we are incredibly proud to announce the appointment of Cyril Madiba as Chief Executive Officer of Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, effective 1 August 2026.
His appointment marks a remarkable full-circle moment. He now leads the very organisation that first invested in his potential and helped shape the leader he has become.

Cyril's story is a powerful testament to the transformative impact of opportunity. With support from Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET), he became the first
person in his family to graduate from university before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant. He went on to build an accomplished career spanning auditing, investment banking and the non-profit sector before returning to the Foundation in 2024 as Chief Financial Officer.

Since February 2026, Cyril has served as Interim Chief Executive Officer, providing steady leadership and strategic direction during a significant period for the organisation. Today, we are honoured to confirm his appointment as Chief Executive Officer as he begins the next chapter of his journey with the Foundation.
Along the way, Cyril has never stopped giving back, mentoring more than 100 aspiring Chartered Accountants and remaining closely connected to the CRET community that shaped him. As CEO, he now carries the Foundation's mission forward from the inside, having first experienced its impact firsthand.

Please join us in congratulating Cyril Madiba on this well-deserved appointment.

29/07/2026

Entrepreneurs need more than ambition to grow. They need access to the right support, guidance, networks, and opportunities.

Through Black Umbrellas, a partner entity of Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, entrepreneurs are supported with structured enterprise development that helps strengthen business confidence, resilience, and long-term sustainability.

This is where partnership becomes practical. It helps create the conditions for entrepreneurs to grow, contribute to the economy, and support the communities around them.

28/07/2026

The value of partnership is seen in the communities it reaches.

Through the work of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation and its partner entities, support is translated into practical programmes that help create access to education, enterprise development, skills, and community upliftment.

These outcomes are made possible through collaboration, shared purpose, and long-term commitment.

This is how collective support helps build stronger communities.

22/07/2026

On the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast, Saule Cafe is showing how enterprise development can support more than business growth.

Led by entrepreneur Lungelo Saule, the business is expanding access to quality coffee experiences, contributing to local service standards, and creating opportunities for skills development within the hospitality sector.

Through Black Umbrellas, Lungelo has strengthened the business with mentorship, strategic support and the structure needed for sustainable growth.

His journey reflects the broader value of investing in entrepreneurs who are building businesses with both economic and social impact.

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