Skip to content
South African Live
Menu
  • Home
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Fashion
  • Sports
  • Tech
  • Business
  • About us
Menu

Ramaphosa cheekily reacts to being called ‘cupcake’ [video]

Posted on October 20, 2025
68

President Cyril Ramaphosa insists he does not know the reason why South Africans refer to him by his unofficial nickname “cupcake”.

This follows a viral video of a young learner addressing him by the name that refers to his alleged philandering past.

RAMAPHOSA REACTS TO BEING CALLED ‘CUPCAKE’

This week, a clip of a young learner casually referring to President Ramaphosa by his nickname “cupcake”.

The 72-year-old delivered the keynote speech at the 7th Social Justice Summit, which was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on Friday, 17 October.

A student introduced the president, boldly claiming, “It’s an honour to be here. It’s my first time seeing the president. Hello, Cupcake!”

The learner waved at the president, who later posed for pictures with the group.

During his address, Ramaphosa suggested he had no clue what the reference was about.

“The young people who stood up here, one of them said something that I’m often called.

“I never respond to it because I don’t know what it means. I know will have a response to them when they say it, I’ll say ‘eat cake’”.

@lisakanya_ashley_venna #Cupcake #Ramaphosa#journalist ♬ original sound – Lisakanya Ashley Venna

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

While President Ramaphosa suggests his nickname “cupcake” refers to a sweet treat, it’s not the case at all.

According to IOL, the term of endearment was given to the president in 2017, as seen in messages allegedly sent to him by multiple women amid allegations he was sleeping with and financing several young women. 

In a leaked email, Ramaphosa – then running for the presidency – also allegedly used the term “cupcake” to describe one of the women.

In a sit-down interview with the Sunday Times, Ramaphosa admitted to having an affair with a woman from Limpopo.

President Ramaphosa was addressed as ‘cupcake’ during an official engagement.
Images via X

He said, “I had a relationship with only one person, and it ended. I dealt with it with my wife. We now have a professional relationship.”

He said, “I had a relationship with only one person, and it ended. I dealt with it with my wife. We now have a professional relationship.”

Recent Posts

  • Oscar Mbo accused of abuse as ex-girlfriend Ursula Dlamini breaks years of silence
  • Shebeshxt’s baby mama first video after birth
  • Mbokazi’s club beat Chiefs and Sundowns to Dithejane
  • Agoa clears hurdle, but probably not good news for SA
  • Lasizwe checks in to mental health facility

First established in 2020 by iReport Media Group, southafricanlive.co.za has evolved to become one of the most-read websites in South Africa. Published by iReport Media Group since 2020, find out all about us right here.

We bring you the latest breaking news updates, from South Africa and the African continent. South African Live is an independent, no agenda and no bias online news disruptor that goes beyond the news and behind the headlines. We believe what sets us apart is that we deliver news differently. While we hold ourselves to the utmost journalistic integrity of being truthful, we encourage a writing style that is acerbic and conversational, when appropriate.

LATEST NEWS

  • Oscar Mbo accused of abuse as ex-girlfriend Ursula Dlamini breaks years of silence
  • Shebeshxt’s baby mama first video after birth
  • Mbokazi’s club beat Chiefs and Sundowns to Dithejane
  • Agoa clears hurdle, but probably not good news for SA
  • Lasizwe checks in to mental health facility

Menu

  • Entertainment
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Tech
  • Fashion
  • Sports
  • About us
©2026 South African Live | Design: Newspaperly WordPress Theme