KEY POINTS
- The 2020 game farm break-in involved millions in foreign currency.
- Ramaphosa was cleared of any conflict of interest.
- The scandal nearly cost the ANC its leadership.
Three suspects accused of breaking into South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s game farm in 2020 and stealing millions in foreign currency will appear in court Monday, following a scandal that nearly brought down the president two years ago.
Farmgate scandal threatens Ramaphosa’s leadership
The incident, dubbed “Farmgate,” almost cost Ramaphosa the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) in late 2022. Issues of corruption within the ANC also contributed to the party losing its parliamentary majority in the May elections, which marked one of the closest races in South African democratic history. Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing and was cleared in June 2023 by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog of a potential conflict of interest regarding the money hidden under a sofa on his Phala Phala game farm.
According to a report by Reuters, the scandal broke in June 2022 when former South African spy chief Arthur Fraser filed a police complaint accusing Ramaphosa of money laundering, corruption, and covering up a major cash theft. Fraser alleged that thieves broke into the president’s game farm in February 2020, found at least $4 million in foreign currency stashed in furniture, and stole the money.
Authorities launched a criminal investigation, prompting critics and the press to question the origin of the cash and whether it was declared to tax authorities. Ramaphosa acknowledged the break-in but said a much smaller amount of money, proceeds from the sale of the game, was stolen. He denied any cover-up, explaining that he was away when the theft occurred and reported it upon learning the details. The three suspects on trial were arrested in November 2023.
Ramaphosa cleared of wrongdoing by anti-corruption watchdog
The affair has been a major embarrassment for Ramaphosa, who has positioned himself tough on corruption. Despite the scandal, his opponents were unable to remove him from office. In 2018, Ramaphosa succeeded former President Jacob Zuma on a platform to tackle corruption.
Ramaphosa led the ANC in the 2023 elections and secured a second full presidential term. However, the party lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 30 years, requiring it to form a coalition with smaller parties. Following the formation of the new government, Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille was quoted by local media as saying the coalition would protect Ramaphosa from potential impeachment over the scandal.
A report from acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka found no evidence that Ramaphosa violated his oath of office or created a conflict of interest between his duties and private interests. The report documented a receipt for the amount linked to the sale of buffalo, though the watchdog did not investigate whether the cash had been reported to tax authorities.
