1999
CRET Formally Established – 1999
- 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.
2001
Cyril Ramaphosa founds the Shanduka Group – 2001
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.
2002
Adopt-a-School – 2002
Adopt-a-School is officially established by Cyril Ramaphosa and James Motlatsi.
2004
The Foundation is formally launched – 2004
The Foundation is formally launched, with CRET and Adopt-a-School as integral programmes.
2006
Mentoring of small businesses – 2006
The Foundation provides its first business loan and mentoring of small businesses begins.
2009
Black Umbrellas – 2009
- 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.
2011
Adopt-a-School adopts its 100th school – 2011
- Adopt-a-School adopts its 100th school.
- The Foundation is runner up in the ‘’Best Social Responsibility’’ category of the Africa Business Awards.
2012
2nd place in the CSI category of the Business Times Top 100 Companies survey – 2012
- 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.
2013
The Foundation partners with Kagiso Trust to form KST – 2013
- 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.
2014
The Foundation celebrates 10 years – 2014
- 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
2016
Free State province achieves the highest matric pass rate – 2016
- Black Umbrella achieves R1 billion in combined turnover by its incubator clients.
- Free State province achieves the highest matric pass rate in the country.
2017
The Foundation launches the Thari programme pilot – 2017
- 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.
2018
Mmabatho Maboya is appointed CEO – 2018
- 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.
2019
The Foundation celebrates its 15th anniversary – 2019
- 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.
2020
Dr Tshepo Motsepe is appointed Chairperson – 2020
- 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.
2021
Black Umbrellas launches its Virtual Incubator offerings – 2021
- Motheo and Fezile Dabi achieve the second and third best district matric results nationally.
- Black Umbrellas launches its Virtual Incubator offerings.
2022
The Thari Programme holds its 2nd Biennial Conference in Botshabelo, Free State – 2022
- 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
2023
22 CRET students graduate – 2023
- 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.
2024
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation marks its 20th anniversary! – 2024
Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation marks its 20th anniversary!