President Ramaphosa cleared of wrongdoing

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has been cleared of wrongdoing by a state ombudsman relating to the theft of 1000’s of US {dollars} from a settee on his non-public recreation farm. The appearing public protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, said that Ramaphosa didn’t violate any ethics code in relation to the incident, which had shaken his authority within the ruling African Nationwide Congress. The findings strengthen Ramaphosa’s place as he battles to beat the scandal and lead the ANC into the upcoming nationwide elections. Nevertheless, unanswered questions surrounding the money and the continued investigations might nonetheless pose challenges for the president.

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Cyril Ramaphosa cleared of wrongdoing over Phala Phala theft

By Joseph Cotterill in Johannesburg

State ombudsman says no proof South African president abused his energy over incident at his non-public recreation farm

South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has been cleared by a state ombudsman of wrongdoing over the theft of 1000’s of US {dollars} stuffed into a settee on his non-public recreation farm, a lift as he battles to place the most important risk to his presidency behind him.

Kholeka Gcaleka, South Africa’s appearing public protector, mentioned on Friday that Ramaphosa didn’t violate an ethics code over the fallout from the 2020 incident when not less than $580,000 was stolen from the Phala Phala reserve, which set off a series of occasions that shook his authority within the ruling African Nationwide Congress.

“The allegation that the president improperly . . . uncovered himself to any danger of a battle between his constitutional duties and obligations and his non-public pursuits arising from or affected by [the Phala Phala theft] isn’t substantiated,” she mentioned.

Gcaleka added that there was additionally no proof the president abused his energy over an investigation into the theft of the money, which he has mentioned got here from a sale of buffalo, however did query how police dealt with the probe.

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The findings will strengthen Ramaphosa’s hand within the governing get together after he got here near resigning final yr over the scandal, when a report back to parliamentarians discovered he might need damaged the regulation over the theft’s aftermath. 

Ramaphosa opted to remain on as president as supporters rallied round him and the ANC re-elected him by a big margin to guide it into nationwide elections subsequent yr. The get together additionally used its parliamentary majority to veto a full investigation by lawmakers into his potential impeachment over the affair.

The scandal threatened to shatter an already fragile effort to show spherical South Africa’s establishments and financial system since he took energy in 2018, after years of looting and decay beneath Jacob Zuma, the previous president.

Ramaphosa, a former commerce unionist and anti-apartheid veteran, has mentioned he invested in recreation farming, significantly Ankole cattle, with wealth he garnered as a enterprise tycoon throughout an extended break from politics earlier than he returned as Zuma’s deputy.

The general public protector probe didn’t have a look at the origin or quantity of the money held at Phala Phala, the place Ramaphosa might nonetheless face sanctions from different regulators given South Africa’s controls on the usage of international forex.

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Unanswered questions over the money have sapped Ramaphosa’s popularity as a reformer simply as his authorities has come beneath fireplace for its perceived listlessness over the nation’s power disaster, different festering financial issues, and confusion with the federal government’s stance over the Russia-Ukraine struggle.

The ANC is going through an uphill battle to retain its majority within the 2024 election, 30 years after it first received energy.

Hazim Mustafa, a Sudanese businessman, mentioned final yr he had paid over the money to purchase buffalo on Christmas Day 2019 after a go to to the Phala Phala farm. He added that he had by no means acquired the buffalo after this “regular enterprise transaction” and would possibly search a refund.

South Africa’s income service mentioned this yr it had no file of Mustafa’s money getting into South Africa. It added that Ramaphosa and his recreation estates had complied with their tax obligations thus far. 

The South African Reserve Financial institution and the Hawks, a specialist police anti-corruption unit, have additionally mounted Phala Phala-related investigations.

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