Ramaphosa vs Maimane vs Malema: The jobs they did before they were leaders

Being the leader of a political party isn’t exactly a walk in the park, but a cushy salary coupled with on-the-job perks may help offset all the late evenings and long campaign trails. Cyril Ramaphosa, Mmusi Maimane and Julius Malema have all been working overtime to secure as many votes as possible next week – but none of them are strangers to “hard graft”.

There’s a very popular complaint aimed towards politicians and MPs all over the world. Many leaders are rejected for being “out of touch” with real people and their problems, living in a Parliamentary bubble. But for all three of these candidates, their CVs aren’t just confined to work within the four walls of our National Assembly.

With the election just nine days away, we thought we’d take a look at what Ramaphosa, Maimane and Malema have done to pay the bills besides making a career in politics.

Ramaphosa vs Maimane vs Malema: What is their job history?

Cyril Ramaphosa: CV and other professional roles

• After university, he started work as an advisor in the legal department for the Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA).
• NUM Secretary.
• Founding member of trade union Cosatu.
• Acting professor of law at Sanford University. 
• ANC General Secretary.
• Directorship of New Africa Investments Limited.
• Director and shareholder of Lonmin (mining).
• Returned to politics as deputy president in 2014, before becoming the ANC’s leader in 2017.
• Ramaphosa is also a member of the Coca-Cola Company International Advisory Board.

It can certainly be argued that Cyril has a “presidential” CV. He has held positions inside and outside of government and has previously been credited as “the man who brought McDonald’s to South Africa“, given the business deals he negotiated with the conglomerate.

As a multi-billionaire, Ramaphosa has made his fortune in the business world. But it’s not been an easy ride for him, particularly during his Lonmin days. The company were involved with the ghastly Marikana Massacre, and Cyril – once a director there – ordered law enforcement to take necessary action to disperse the crowds.

It’s a blemish that has permanently stained his resume, and reputation. Nonetheless, Cyril has continued to rebuild his public image as president, and despite being linked to the Bosasa scandal, he seems to be impressing the international audiences keeping their eyes on Mzansi.

Mmusi Maimane: Previous jobs and employment

• Lecturer at the Gordon Institute of Business Science.
• Independent Business consultant
• Pastor at churches in Randburg, Gauteng.
• DA Leader

Following his extensive educational career – which took him from Witwatersrand to North Wales – Maimane ran his own management consultancy and lectured at a business school in Johannesburg, before he applied to run as a DA candidate for Johannesburg City Council.

Up until 2014, Maimane used to preach at the Discovery Church in Randburg and just down the road at Liberty Church. As a pastor, he’d perform sermons under his official first name, Aloysias. After he was elected leader of the DA, his days behind the pulpit have been severely limited.

Julius Malema: Work history and other involvements

• Chair of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS).
• ANC Youth League President.
• EFF leader.
• Previously involved with On Point Engineering as a director/shareholder

If there’s one man you could argue has been institutionalised by politics, it’s Julius Malema. He was involved with Cosas as a teenager and was barely 20 years old before he assumed the presidency of the organisation.

This would pave the way for a tumultuous stint as the ANCYL leader; a role which was plagued by his own bad behaviour. His leadership of the EFF will be the longest spell of employment he’s ever had (if he makes it to the end of 2019). However, he has dabbled with a life outside of politics, but that’s not been without controversy either.

He was revealed to be a shareholder in the On Point Engineering company, and the outfit even made him a director at one stage. However, they were accused of illegally securing tenders in Limpopo, and Juju was facing a trial for misappropriating funds before the case was struck off the roll.