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Dubai buyer linked to ‘Farmgate’ scandal

Publish date: 15 August 2022
Issue Number: 990
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: General

Key details of the 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm have started to emerge as investigations gain steam. And Ramaphosa’s insiders have begun to question how key information reached former spy boss Arthur Fraser. News24 has learned that the amount of money stolen was about $600 000 – far less than the millions of dollars that were initially speculated to have been stolen. The cash was paid to Ramaphosa’s farm manager, Hendrik von Wielligh, for the sale of just one buffalo. The unidentified buyer in the Phala Phala matter is believed to have been from Dubai and the money was also not hidden in a couch, but rather in a cupboard.

Ramaphosa’s head of security, Major-General Wally Rhoode, said he was informed about the burglary in February 2020 while he and the President were in Addis Ababa for an AU summit. The News24 report notes that Rhoode claims he informed then Deputy National Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Sindile Mfazi, who he said instructed him to ‘gather more information’. Rhoode did so, interviewing a ‘temporary worker’ Froliana Joseph and her brother, David. Rhoode said the interviews were voluntary and did not amount to interrogations, and that after he had gathered the information he had handed it over to Mfazi, as he is not empowered to register dockets. National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola submitted a confirmatory affidavit, supporting Rhoode’s version, adding that no case had been registered around the burglary. Legalbrief reports that Ramaphosa has submitted written answers related to the Phala Phala investigation to Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka. Ramaphosa faced the threat of a subpoena from Gcaleka after he failed to meet the 18 July deadline for submission.

Full Fin24 report

Former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng and former Constitutional Court Justice Chris Jafta are among the names touted to form part of a panel to determine whether sufficient grounds exist to initiate an impeachment inquiry into Ramaphosa. News24 reports the independent, three-member panel will decide whether Ramaphosa has a case to answer on the allegations of money laundering, among others, related to the robbery. This after a motion was submitted on 14 June by the African Transformation Movement (ATM), which National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula acceded to. The same procedure will be followed as that of the inquiry to impeach suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane. The speaker must appoint a panel after giving political parties represented in the National Assembly a reasonable opportunity to put forward nominees, and after she has given due consideration to all persons nominated. It is understood that the ATM could lobby opposition parties to support Jafta to head the panel. ATM leader Vuyolwethu Zungula and United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa confirmed that opposition parties are meant to meet today. Zungula said it was a follow-up to a meeting that took place last Wednesday. Sources close to the internal deliberations said the ATM initially settled on Mogoeng. However, this could be ruled out after the All-African Alliance Movement confirmed that Mogoeng accepted the nomination to lead the party at the upcoming national elections in 2024. Holomisa acknowledged the UDM had yet to decide on who the party would nominate to form part of the panel, adding that discussions with other political parties would assist his party in making an informed decision.

Full Fin24 report

Parliament’s rules on the removal of a President will be tested for the first time as the institution embarks on a process to ascertain whether the motion passes muster, reports BusinessLIVE. Political analyst Lukhona Mnguni said it is significant because what it does, irrespective of what the vote might be at the tail-end, is to create an opportunity to hold the President accountable. ‘This is a new development in the legislated accountability framework in SA and I think it is something to write home about because suddenly we have a robust framework on giving effect to Section 89' (of the Constitution which provides for the National Assembly to remove a President if found guilty of serious violations). If it is seen all the way through to an investigation and tabling of a report for debate in the house, it will be a good test to see whether the behaviour of Parliament has changed in how it handles matters involving very senior people in government, and in particular the behaviour of ANC MPs in handling something like this.’ Mnguni said it is going to be interesting to see Ramaphosa’s attitude towards such a parliamentary inquiry. ‘Will he be in a position we saw with Mkhwebane and her inquiry, wanting to litigate and trying to stop the inquiry from taking place, or will he comply and take this matter seriously?’

Full BusinessLIVE report

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