Prosecutors said Friday they are seeking an extradition order and the arrest of more suspects over the 2020 theft of about $580,000 in U.S. cash hidden on a sofa at South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ranch. Announced.
The theft only became public in 2022, but Mr Ramaphosa was embroiled in a scandal that led to an investigation by financial authorities. Although he was acquitted of any wrongdoing, he faced an impeachment motion in Congress over the matter. He survived the vote as his ruling African National Congress party won a majority.
Mr Ramaphosa has been accused by his political opponents of tax evasion and money laundering over funds stashed at his Phala Phala hunting ranch in the northern province of Limpopo. The fact that the cash was hidden in the sofa raised questions about whether President Ramaphosa had properly declared the foreign currency.
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Mr Ramaphosa said the money came from the sale of buffalo and denied any wrongdoing.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa answers questions about the BRICS partnership during a media briefing in Cape Town, South Africa, June 10, 2022. (Shabiso Mukabela/Xinhua News Agency, via Getty Images)
Two people, a man and a woman, were arrested and charged with theft. Prosecutor Nketeni Munyai said at a hearing in the northern town of Bela Bela on Friday that proceedings had begun to transfer the other suspects to South Africa. He did not say how many suspects there were or where they would be extradited.
According to media reports at the time of the scandal, the robbery suspects fled to neighboring Namibia.
The scandal has severely tarnished Ramaphosa’s image after he was largely elected in 2019 on a promise to root out corruption in the ANC-led government. He reportedly came close to resigning over the issue.
Prime Minister Ramaphosa will seek a second and final five-year term in national elections on May 29, with the ANC expected to face its toughest test in its three decades governing Africa’s most developed economy. ing. Several opinion polls show the ANC’s vote share has fallen below 50% for the first time in a national election, forcing it to form a coalition to stay in power.
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The ANC is scheduled to launch its election manifesto at a sports stadium in the eastern city of Durban on Saturday.
