Friday, 17 November 2017 will remain one of the most important days in the life of a "son of the soil", the gentle giant in the South African political landscape, the legend and veteran politician, Mr Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa, who is also one of the hottest contenders in the ANC presidential race, hosted a double-header function when he launched his book and celebrated his 65th birthday.
The auspicious function was held at the FNB Conference Centre in Sandton.
The guest list at the function resembled the "who's who" in business and included political heavyweights. The ANC's secretary-general, Mr Gwede Mantashe, was the guest of honour at the function. Former finance minister Mr Pravin Gordhan and the former minister of higher education, Mr Blade Nzimande, friends, relatives and other senior politicians were in attendance.
Among the other esteemed guests was traditional leader Chief Livhuwani Matsila, an avid supporter of Cyril Ramaphosa's and one of the deputy president's chief lobbyists in Limpopo.
The book, The Cattle of the Ages, is about farming with Ankole cattle, which have royal origins in Africa. Ramaphosa brought the cattle to South Africa and initiated a project to empower small farmers.
The event followed Ramaphosa's very successful campaign tour of Limpopo where he was hosted by Matsila and other politicians in the province.
Commenting after the launch, Matsila said the book was a fitting and handy tool for their developmental agenda as traditional leaders, more specifically as it focuses on small-scale rural farmers. "We are here to celebrate the life and wonderful achievements of our legend, whose remarkable contribution led towards the achievement of freedom and liberation in South Arica," he said.
"His own personal achievements as a businessman and an excellent farmer serve as a role model to many of us who have the onerous responsibility to fight poverty, create jobs and bring development to our rural communities," said Matsila.