South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday made a strong defence of his integrity after allegations of improper conduct over large amounts of cash stolen from his wildlife farm in 2020.
Last week, former spy Chief Arthur Fraser opened criminal charges against the president over what he said was a case related to the alleged attempted theft of $4m (£3.2m) in 2020 at one of the president’s properties and the alleged efforts to conceal what happened.
Fraser alleges the theft occurred with the collusion of a domestic worker and claims that the theft was concealed from police and the revenue service. He said Ramaphosa paid the culprits for their silence.
The allegations from the bombshell statement has riveted South Africans and exposed the rifts in the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.
In a Twitter response last week, Ramaphosa’s office confirmed that there was a robbery at the farm in Limpopo “in which proceeds from the sale of the game were stolen”. Questions were raised as to why he had that sum in cash.
Talking to supporters at the weekend, Ramaphosa explained that as a farmer he frequently bought and sold cattle and people often paid in cash. In addition, he denied that the amount stolen was anywhere near $4m.
“Some are casting aspersions about me and money. I want to assure you that all this was money from proceeds from selling animals. I have never stolen money from anywhere. Be it from our taxpayers, be it from anyone. I have never done so. And will never do so,” he said while addressing members of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party on Sunday.
“All this was money from proceeds from selling animals… I have never stolen money from anywhere… and will never do so,” he added.
