The Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation has appointed former bursary beneficiary Cyril Madiba to lead the organisation, marking a full-circle moment for a man whose own education was supported by the foundation’s Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET).
Madiba, a chartered accountant, joined the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation as chief financial officer in 2024 after having previously served as chairperson of the CRET Alumni Advisory Board. He began his relationship with the organisation in 2005, when he received support through the bursary programme to pursue his accounting studies.
The foundation’s recent public communications identify Madiba as its interim chief executive officer, a role he has held since February 2026. Its website lists him among the organisation’s executive leadership, while the Future of Leadership Awards describes him as the foundation’s interim CEO and notes that he remains substantively its CFO.
His appointment represents a significant example of the long-term impact of the foundation’s education programmes, with Madiba moving from being a young beneficiary to becoming part of the leadership of the organisation that helped shape his career.
The foundation previously described his journey as an example of its programmes coming “full circle”, noting that he joined CRET as an 18-year-old aspiring chartered accountant and returned almost two decades later as a senior executive.
Madiba has also remained involved in youth development and mentorship beyond his professional responsibilities. He is the founder of the Cyril Madiba Empowerment Foundation and The Growth Switch, initiatives focused on supporting young people, while he has also mentored aspiring chartered accountants. He was recognised as a finalist in the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants’ Top 35-under-35 awards in 2020 and was named among Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans in 2021.
Reflecting on the role education played in his own journey, Madiba previously said: “My story is one of many that showcase how this great organisation has impacted many people’s lives for the better across the aspects of education, small business development and community development. I look forward to making my contribution as we work together to foster an inclusive and empowered society.”
The foundation’s work centres on education, enterprise development and social development, with its partner entities including Adopt-a-School Foundation, Black Umbrellas, the Thari Programme, Kagiso Shanduka Trust and CRET. The organisation says its purpose is to foster “an inclusive, empowered society” and create opportunities that improve the lives of disadvantaged individuals and communities.
Madiba’s elevation comes as the foundation continues to expand its focus on education and opportunity. In 2026, the organisation said CRET had supported 821 young people with tertiary education and holistic development opportunities, underscoring the scale of the programme that once supported Madiba himself.
The leadership transition therefore carries significance beyond a change at the top of a nonprofit organisation. For Madiba, it is a return to the institution that helped him qualify as a chartered accountant, this time as one of the people responsible for shaping its future.
