South African prosecutors have announced that there will be no criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the controversial farm theft scandal that almost led to his downfall two years ago. A former intelligence chief initiated a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa, alleging attempts to conceal the theft of $4 million (approximately £3.25 million) in cash from his game farm in Limpopo province.
President Ramaphosa has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the cash stolen in 2020 originated from legitimate buffalo sales at his Phala Phala farm. The decision to refrain from prosecuting Ramaphosa or others involved follows a thorough investigation.
Despite the so-called “farmgate” scandal, Ramaphosa was re-elected in June, albeit requiring a coalition government, while inquiries into the matter were ongoing. The African National Congress (ANC), which he leads, blocked an impeachment motion against him in 2022 relating to the scandal.
The anti-corruption watchdog cleared Ramaphosa last year amid calls for his resignation. Allegations from Arthur Fraser, former head of the state security agency, suggested that Ramaphosa concealed the theft from law enforcement and instead engaged in efforts to silence the alleged robbers through kidnapping.
Ramaphosa faced accusations of money laundering, tax evasion, and violations of foreign currency laws pertaining to the U.S. dollar cash involved. While acknowledging the burglary, he rejected the criminal allegations, stating that he reported the incident to the police and contested the amounts cited, emphasizing that the funds were derived from legitimate business operations.
The highly publicized burglary destabilized Ramaphosa’s administration ahead of significant party leadership elections. However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) concluded that insufficient evidence exists to support claims of corruption or money laundering.
Ivy Thenga, Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, clarified that the decision against prosecution was based on a careful review of evidence provided by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). According to NPA spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga, the evidence presented cannot substantiate any legal charges. The investigation also examined potential violations of income tax and exchange control regulations.
Meanwhile, the case against three individuals accused of breaking into Ramaphosa’s farm is set to advance next month, following their court appearance earlier this week on various charges, including money laundering and burglary.
