Ramaphosa Off the Hook in Farmgate Scandal

South African prosecutors have decided not to bring criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa concerning the 2020 robbery at his Phala Phala game farm.

The scandal, dubbed “Farmgate”, emerged in June 2022 when former intelligence chief Arthur Fraser accused Ramaphosa of concealing the theft of $580 000, allegedly derived from the sale of buffaloes.

Fraser, a close ally of former President Jacob Zuma, claimed the stolen sum was closer to four million dollars and alleged it was linked to money laundering, tax evasion, and violations of foreign currency regulations.

Ramaphosa admitted the break-in but denied any wrongdoing. He insisted the money came from a legitimate sale and had been reported to his police protection unit. Fraser further alleged that Ramaphosa’s security detail kidnapped and bribed the suspects to keep the incident secret.

Following an extensive investigation, the National Prosecuting Authority concluded there was insufficient evidence to support any charges. This decision follows previous clearances of Ramaphosa by the Reserve Bank and an independent watchdog.

The scandal, which initially threatened his presidency, did not prevent his re-election as leader of the country in June. Meanwhile, three suspects have been charged with theft and housebreaking.

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