APA-Pretoria (South Africa) South Africa’s acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has absolved President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing on the way he handled the robbery at his Phala Phala farm in February 2020.
In a report published on Friday, the acting public protector found that Ramaphosa did not violate the Executive Ethics Code.
“The allegation that the president improperly and, in violation of the provisions of the Executive Ethics Code, exposed himself to any risk of a conflict between his constitutional duties and obligations and his private interests arising from or affected by his alleged paid work at Phala Phala farm is not substantiated,” Gcaleka said.
The report followed an investigation by the ombudsman prompted by a parliamentary motion by opposition African Transformation Movement leader Vuyo Zungula for Ramaphosa to be probed in the aftermath of a criminal complaint laid by former spy boss Arthur Fraser in June 2022.
The public protector investigated whether Ramaphosa exposed himself to a conflict between his constitutional duties and his private interests as a result of his alleged paid work at Phala Phala game farm.
This followed an alleged attempt by Ramaphosa to cover up the theft of millions of US dollars at the farm over three years ago in what has been popularly referred to as the “farmgate:” scandal.
Gcaleka’s probe, however, found that the president is no longer involved in the running of the farm, which is now managed by Ntaba Nyoni Close Corporation. The land is owned and registered under the Tshivhase Trust, to which Ramaphosa is a member.
The report said evidence and information presented before the public protector showed that the money stolen from the farm was proceeds from a private cash transaction between private persons.
There was no evidence that Ramaphosa had received remuneration or undertook paid work at the farm while in office, the report said.
JN/APA