“Being a President Is His Side Hustle”: Close Look at Queen Arusha, Cyril Ramaphosa’s R6.4m Cow

• Queen Arusha, an in-calf Ankole heifer from Ntaba Nyoni farm, made history after selling for R6.4 million recently
• An online commentary breakdown examined President Cyril Ramaphosa's transition from local cattle trading to establishing elite genetics in Limpopo
• The record-setting transaction stirred discussion online about high-value livestock breeding, business strategy, and politics

An online video posted by Instagram user @hamzeh.majiet on 7 October 2026 shed light on the background of President Cyril Ramaphosa's cattle operations after an Ankole heifer named Queen Arusha fetched a record-breaking R6.4 million on 3 October 2026. The transaction took place during the Ntaba Nyoni and Friends auction held at the president's Phala Phala farm near Bela-Bela, Limpopo, setting a new national price record for a female animal across all cattle breeds in South Africa.

From Uganda to a record-breaking auction

In the video, the creator explained how Ramaphosa shifted his agricultural focus toward Ankole stud farming following a pivotal trip to Uganda in 2004. Prior to that, his farming activities focused primarily on purchasing weaner cattle from the Eastern Cape and Namibia. After acquiring 40 cows and three bulls from the Ugandan president, Ramaphosa established an intensive breeding and genetics programme that has since produced some of the most sought-after stud cattle in the country.

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The content creator detailed that Queen Arusha is a full sister to Optimus Prime, a high-value Ankole bull renowned for his 68-inch horn span. Beyond individual livestock, the auction saw two genetic breeding straws from Optimus Prime fetch R250,000 each, contributing to an overall event total of R22.5 million.

Watch the Instagram reel below:

Mzansi reacts to the R6.4M price tag

The historic price tag prompted a wide variety of reactions from social media users, ranging from admiration for the president's agricultural business to scepticism regarding the valuation:

@jax_serrao commented:

"People, he was rich before he was the president. He is a very good businessman; he just needs to lead his party the same way."

@marglenaik wrote:

"I have never seen a more beautiful cow 😍."

@beka_shezi stated:

"Definitely dirty money being cleaned"

@ricky.simoes84 joked:

"That's an expensive burger"

@botlhale.__ said:

"This business is his main focus. Being a president is just his side hustle 🔥."

@ponatso joked:

"Is it a celebrity cow or what?"

More animal-related articles

• A young South African woman sparked a fierce online debate about traditional gender rules after sharing a video of herself handling a cow inside her family's kraal.
• A South African woman amused the internet after sharing a video of a herd of cows stopping in the middle of the road to stare at her, joking that her "lobola cows" had noticed her.
• A local woman amused the internet after sharing a video of a herd of cows casually strolling through her suburban neighbourhood past her house and car.

Source: Briefly News