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South African prosecutors have announced they will not pursue criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa in connection with the controversial farm theft scandal that nearly toppled his presidency two years ago. The case stems from a criminal complaint filed by Arthur Fraser, a former spy chief, accusing Ramaphosa of irregularities in covering up the theft of $4 million (about £3.25 million) in cash from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo province.
The president has consistently denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the money stolen from his sofa in 2020 was from the legitimate sale of buffaloes. After a “comprehensive investigation,” prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to charge Ramaphosa or anyone else.
The “farmgate” scandal, as it became known, threw Ramaphosa’s government into disarray and nearly derailed his re-election bid. In 2022, the ruling ANC used its parliamentary majority to block an impeachment motion, allowing Ramaphosa to survive politically. He was re-elected in June this year, though forced to form a coalition government while investigations continued.
The anti-corruption watchdog cleared Ramaphosa of wrongdoing last year, despite calls for his resignation. Fraser had alleged that Ramaphosa attempted to cover up the burglary by not reporting it to police or tax authorities and by arranging the abduction and interrogation of the suspects. He also accused the president of money laundering, tax evasion, and violating foreign currency laws.
Ramaphosa admitted the break-in occurred but refuted the criminal allegations, including the claimed amount of stolen money, and maintained that the funds were from legitimate sales at his animal-breeding farm.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the investigation found no evidence of corruption or money laundering. According to NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga, after a “careful assessment” of the evidence presented by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, prosecutors determined that no charges could be sustained. The probe also found no violation of tax or foreign exchange laws.
Meanwhile, the case against three suspects accused of breaking into Ramaphosa’s farm continues. They face charges including money laundering and housebreaking and appeared in court earlier this week in Limpopo. Their trial is scheduled to resume next month.
