While you were asleep: Ramaphosa pleads innocence, says he never stole money

There’s a giant dark cloud hanging over President Cyril Ramaphosa following the revelation last week that money was stolen from the president’s farm in Limpopo two years ago.

It was initially reported that a case was opened in February 2020, but police say no such case has been opened in the two years since the burglary.

Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said over the weekend that the head of Ramaphosa’s police protection unit, Major-General Wally Rhoode, did not report the burglary.

Last week, Magwenya said the president reported the burglary to his protection unit and that a case was opened with the South African Police Service (SAPS)

Magwenya said he was not in a position to comment on why Rhoode did not report the crime to the police.

The allegations of a robbery on the president’s farm near Bela-Bela were first made by former state security agency director-general Arthur Fraser who alleged that the bandits stole more than $4 million but were subsequently caught, interrogated and paid R150,000 each for their silence.

Ramaphosa has refuted the claims made by Fraser and Magwenya says the $4 million sum is greatly exaggerated.

The president has denied that he was part of any cover-up or that he was involved in any money-laundering or tried to hide the money from the South African Revenue Service (Sars).

Ramaphosa, however, refused to divulge exactly how much foreign currency was stolen from the farm but defended his cattle business and said it had been declared in parliament.

“I want to reaffirm that I was not involved in any criminal conduct, and once again, I pledge my full cooperation with any form of investigation.

Still, due to the investigation, I will not be able to engage deeply or further in the matter. I will let the due process take its course.”

Ramaphosa added that the allegations of money laundering and corruption levelled against him were politically motivated.