On June 1, 2022, Arthur Fraser, the former head of South Africa’s State Security Service, entered a Johannesburg police station and filed a criminal complaint against President Cyril Ramafoza. Fraser accused Ramafoza of kidnapping, bribery, money laundering and “concealing a crime” in connection with the alleged theft of $ 4 million from the Phala Phala farm, in a 12-page affidavit accompanied by a closed-door photo and document. (CCTV) footage from the alleged theft that takes place. Shortly after the spy’s allegations surfaced, Ramafosa issued a statement confirming a robbery on his farm on February 9, 2020, saying that “proceeds from the sale of game were stolen”, but denied any wrongdoing or criminal conduct. When he took office in 2018, after defeating former African Union President Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, according to Jacob Zuma, in the African National Congress (ANC) general election, Ramaphosa vowed to root out corruption in state institutions. However, Ramafosa’s tenure has had its share of controversy and Fraser’s allegations could affect the president’s career as the ruling ANC prepares to hold national elections in December.
What is the scandal?
According to Fraser, criminals stormed the Ramaphosa Phala Phala wildlife farm in South Africa’s Limpopo province on February 9, 2020, and discovered large sums of dollars hidden in various furniture. Fraser claimed that Ramaphosa’s housekeeper, whose identity is protected, discovered the stock and sent a message to her brother, who knew of a gang that could have carried out the robbery. The gang reportedly included four Namibians and two South Africans who entered the facility by cutting the wire perimeter and entering through a main farmhouse window. The burglary was recorded on CCTV footage, according to Fraser, who attached a video of what appeared to be two men crawling to a window on their knees and two others waiting at a door. The president, who said in a statement that he was abroad at the time, claims that he reported the incident to the presidential protection police unit. Upon his return, he asked his security chief, Lt. Gen. Wally Rhode, to investigate the incident. Rhode reportedly assembled a group of retired police officers and members of the crime intelligence unit, who recovered some of the stolen items from the housekeeper and some of its alleged accomplices after questioning. Fraser claims that the housekeeper and the alleged perpetrators were later paid nearly $ 10,000 for their silence. The housekeeper reportedly later restored but was assigned to a different job on the farm.
What happened next;
Ramaphosa spokesman Vincent Magwenya denied Fraser’s allegations in a statement, adding: “President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledges that while there is great public interest and concern about the allegations made in a criminal complaint against him, he remains firmly committed to of rebuilding the economy. and the country. “ Some of the suspects are accused of changing the currency from US dollars to South African rand and making a spree of spending – buying cars and houses in cash – in Cape Town shortly after the alleged robbery. Fraser said this in his affidavit and attached documents to support his claim. According to Fraser, one of the suspects fled the country and returned to Namibia. Ramafosa then sought the help of Namibian President Hage Geingbomb, who sent local law enforcement officials to arrest the suspect and hand him over to Rudd, who recovered some of the loot. During a press conference on Tuesday, Geingob denied allegations that he was involved in anything illegal, but confirmed that he had regular phone calls with his South African counterpart, The Namibian reported. “I am in contact with about 14 presidents, we are calling each other [on the phone] Το This thing happened in South Africa, there will be a court case, maybe. “It’s a criminal case,” Geingob said. He continued, “People were here, someone came here illegally. He was arrested, later charged, paid and returned to South Africa. So I do not know what favor I would do to anyone. “
What do we know about Phala Phala Farm?
It is located on the outskirts of a town called Bela-Bela in Limpopo, the northernmost province of South Africa. According to its website, it covers 4,500 hectares (11,120 acres). It has been operating since 2010. Ramaphosa’s last business interest statement was in 2017 and Phala Phala was not specifically mentioned. This is not the first Phala Phala controversy. In November 2020, the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) accused Ramaphosa of having links to the South African trophy hunting industry. PETA claimed to have conducted a covert investigation and received confirmatory statements from farm workers. “Wild animals are bred specifically to be killed for trophies,” he said in a statement. “The plots reveal that Ramaphosa is quietly developing and expanding a trophy hunting property called Diepdrift – supplying it with animals from his own wildlife breeding company, Phala Phala – and that he owns 50% of the shares in Tsala Hunting Safaris. Ramaphosa immediately denied having a stake in the trophy hunting industry or Tsala Hunting Safaris. “Phala Phala wildlife breeding and management activities comply with industry ethical and legal best practices,” it said in a statement.
What have been the reactions so far?
Opposition parties in South Africa have called for Ramaphosa’s resignation in response to a public outcry. Former President Zuma was ousted in a vote of no confidence in parliament following a scandal in which $ 16 million in taxpayer money was used to improve security at his private Nkandla complex in KwaZulu-Natal. Earlier this week, controversial brothers Rajesh and Atul Gupta, who allegedly used their relationship with Zuma to influence contracts and dating for years, were arrested by Dubai police. According to information, they are waiting for their release.
According to Ramafosa’s critics and opponents, the charges against him appear to be on a par with those of his predecessor. In a press conference on Tuesday, Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said: “We will treat him the same way we treated Zuma. He did not respect his oath … these are very serious allegations. Let them keep pushing Fraser, there are more. “Ramaphosa is involved in money laundering and illegal financial flows without being held accountable.” Ramaphosa has so far refused to say why he stored a significant amount of money in foreign currency on his property or whether the money was declared to the South African Revenue Service for tax or customs purposes upon entering the country. Meanwhile, other opposition parties, such as the African Transformation Movement (ATM) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM), wrote a letter to parliament calling for an investigation into the allegations and urging Ramafoza to take “Saturday leave” until authorities law enforcement complete its investigation. Parliament Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula confirmed the receipt of the letters to the local eNCA news channel on Wednesday, saying: within my rights as a speaker in relation to the court proceedings “. Mapisa-Nqakula also confirmed that Ramaphosa had denied the allegations and “made himself available to law enforcement in connection with the investigation”. The public defender, lawyer Busisiwe Mkhwebane, confirmed on Thursday that her office, an independent government guard, had also launched an investigation into the matter following a complaint from a member of parliament. “The complaint relates to the alleged conduct of President Ramaphosa in connection with allegations of criminal activity on one of his properties,” the statement said.
What’s next?
Ramaphosa prepares to host the Ankole Society of South Africa’s national cattle auction next week at the same Phala Phala farm. As some government agencies begin to investigate Fraser’s allegations, it is only a matter of time before more details are revealed.
