Tumelo Ramaphosa – the youngest son of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa – has shown off his collection of ankole cattle.
Like his dad, the young businessman – who owns high-end butchery StudEx Meat – is known for pursuing his entrepreneurial interests.
The president is believed to own more than 100 of the unique breed, which are indigenous to African countries like Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, and parts of Tanzania.
PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA’S SON SHOWS OFF LUXURY CATTLE COLLECTION
In several Instagram posts, Tumelo Ramaphosa showed off his collection of ankole cattle, which are used to produce high-quality steak.
The youngest son of the South African resident posed for pictures alongside his expansive herd, which was being bred for its lean meat.
The businessman recently introduced ankole beef as an addition to his wagyu beef menu.
He captioned one post: “Ankole beef is celebrated for its tenderness and rich flavour. It’s naturally leaner than most beef, appealing to health‑conscious diners. It packs high levels of Omega‑3 and Omega‑9 fats while being low in cholesterol”.
He added: “This is more than steak — it’s history, innovation, and the future of African agriculture.”
HOW MUCH DOES ANKOLE COST?
According to Sowetan Live, one Ankole cow can easily sell half a million rand.
The cattle – known for their long horns – produce lean meat, rich milk, and quality leather. Their horns are also considered a hot commodity. The breed is known to be “hardy cattle” and can live up to 30 years, relying on limited food and water.
In 2004, Cyril Ramaphosa—then an astute businessman—bought 43 Ankole cattle from Uganda, but they had to be brought into South Africa via artificial insemination.
The embryos of the cows were implanted in surrogate cows.
In 2022, Ramaphosa sold one of his Ankole cows for over R2 million at an auction, reported TimesLive.
In his 2017 coffee table book, Cattle of the Ages, Ramaphosa described his fascination with the breed.
He said, “They each had long, white, beautiful horns glinting in the African sun. I suddenly became fixated and couldn’t stop looking at them. I was intrigued and in awe and fell in love with these creatures immediately”.
