Former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser. Picture: Jikelo/African News Agency (ANA)
Mashudu Sadike and Ntombi Nkosi
Pretoria - Former State Security Agency (SSA) boss Arthur Fraser has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of lying about the origin of the stolen US dollars at his Phala Phala farm.
Fraser said his (Ramaphosa’s) business records would have to prove his assertions that the money came from his game farm proceeds in the form of an auction.
Ramaphosa, in his defence during the closure of the ANC Limpopo elective conference in June, said the stolen money came from the proceeds of his game farming. He said he was a game farmer.
Fraser in May opened a case against Ramaphosa, accusing him of concealing a crime at his Phala Phala farm where about $4 million dollars (R73.4m) were stolen.
Fraser has since challenged Ramaphosa’s statement that the money came from business proceeds.
A letter detailing a meeting between Fraser’s legal advisers and the Hawks, written in June and believed to be written by the former spy boss, asserts that Ramaphosa had lied about the money.
In the same letter submitted to the National Assembly by various parties, including the EFF and the UDM, Ramaphosa’s closest ally and adviser Bejani Chauke is accused of having been responsible for transporting the money into the country from overseas.
It reads in part: “This money from the president’s Phala Phala farm on February 9, 2020 was not money derived from the sale of animals and/or the hunting of game as articulated by the president on June 5, 2022 in his address after the ANC Limpopo conference.”
The letter further reads: “Business records of the president’s sale on animals and hunting that took place on Phala Phala and on other farms through which the president conducts business must be obtained for the period of March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020 detailing all transcripts and all invoices, receipts and communication, including email in relation to sales and purchases.
“Both business records and personal banking records of the president for the period of March 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020 must be obtained, detailing all credits and debits.”
Independent Media contacted Chauke on his cellphone, but it rang and went unanswered. SMS and WhatsApp messages were sent to him, but there was no reply.
Meanwhile, Cope said the law enforcement agencies must do everything in their power to get to the bottom “of this Phala Phala farm robbery scandal”.
“The investigators who probe (the matter) must not see Ramaphosa as president, and treat him as an ordinary suspect.
“This is a very serious matter, and must be treated as such. The sooner this investigation is completed the better. It will be in the best interests of Ramaphosa because a dark cloud is hanging over his head,” said Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem.
FF Plus leader Dr Piet Groenewald said this complete document should be submitted to the panel of inquiry into whether the president’s Phala Phala issue constituted a prima facie case, so that a section 194 committee can be established to look into the matter.
“We did not receive any other documents or any documents for that case, except those in the public domain. If the panel does not want to receive this document, and ask questions about it, then there is really prejudice as far as I’m concerned, because these are serious allegations, names, telephone numbers and the suggestion that the Hawks should investigate and follow the trail must also be followed duly by the Hawks.
“And I will pose some questions in the portfolio committee and of the police of course and in even in Parliament, now that the whole document is in the public domain,” Groenewald said.
Speaking to Independent Media yesterday, the DA said Ramaphosa would have to account fully for the circumstances.
“The DA has lodged a complaint with the Office of the Public Protector to get to the bottom of what we call an entirely sordid matter. We have repeatedly questioned the origin of the money and the original source of the foreign currency, as well as the conflict of interest that existed with the use of the Presidential Protection Unit to recover the private business funds of Phala Phala, as no other citizen enjoys this priority,” said DA leader John Steenhuisen.
He added that the principle of equality before the law was also paramount.
“There cannot be one set of laws for South African citizens and another for the political elite. This is why it is essential that the investigations conclude as swiftly as possible and that the truth is laid bare, so that accountability can follow,” Steenhuisen said.
ATM leader, Vuyo Zungula said: “The president has been very secretive and defensive regarding Phala Phala. With the amount reportedly in Phala Phala, which an investigator says is $20m… It is reasonable and understandable that we believe that that amount was from criminal activities.
“If it was a legitimate business transaction, why not declare and reported it to the SA Reserve Bank? (We know this because the Reserve Bank asked for information related to the source of the cash.) Why was the money not banked or kept in a safe? Why not report it to the SA Revenue Service?
“Why is the theft and investigation done underhandedly and everything concerning the break-in and investigation concealed?” he asked.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, was also contacted but failed to reply.
Pretoria News