Ramaphosa Will Not Face Charges Over Farm Theft Scandal

South African prosecutors say they will not pursue criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa over the controversial farm theft scandal that nearly toppled the president two years ago.

A former spy chief filed a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa, accusing him of committing irregularities in covering up the theft of $4 million (£3.25 million) in cash from his game farm in northeastern Limpopo province.

The president denied any wrongdoing and said the money stolen from his bank in 2020 came from the legitimate sale of buffalo at his Phala Phala farm.

The decision not to press charges against Ramaphosa or anyone else came after “an extensive investigative process,” prosecutors said.

Ramaphosa survived the so-called ‘farmgate’ scandal and was re-elected as president in June, albeit after being forced to form a coalition while the criminal investigation was still ongoing.

In 2022, his African National Congress (ANC) used its majority to block an impeachment motion against him over the scandal.

Last year, the anti-corruption watchdog acquitted Ramaphosa after calls for his resignation.

Arthur Fraser, who headed the state security service between 2016 and 2018, alleged that Ramaphosa hid the farm theft from police and tax authorities and instead organized the kidnapping and interrogation of the robbers in an attempt to silence them .

The president was also accused of money laundering, tax evasion and violating currency laws because of the cash, which was in US dollars.

Ramaphosa acknowledged the burglary but denied the criminal charges and said he had reported it to police.

He has also disputed how much money was involved, saying it came from the legitimate sale of game from his farm.

The highly publicized burglary threw Ramaphosa’s government into turmoil ahead of a crucial party leadership vote.

But an investigation into the case has found insufficient evidence of corruption and money laundering, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Thursday.

Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions Ivy Thenga said in a statement that the decision not to prosecute Ramaphosa was made after a “careful assessment” of all available evidence presented to prosecutors by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI) was presented.

“The available evidence presented to prosecutors cannot support any charges,” said NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga.

The investigation also included any possible violation of income tax and exchange control regulations, the prosecutor added.

The case against three people accused of breaking into Ramaphosa’s farm will continue next month.

They appeared in a Limpopo court earlier this week on several charges, including money laundering and residential burglary.