South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will not face any criminal charges following a protracted investigation into a scandal involving $580,000 hidden in a couch at his ranch. The decision, announced by prosecutors, marks the end of a two-year inquiry prompted by allegations made by former national security chief Arthur Fraser.
In June 2022, Fraser accused Ramaphosa of serious offenses, including kidnapping and bribery, relating to the theft of the cash, which he claimed was concealed in furniture to evade South Africa’s foreign currency regulations. Fraser alleged that, rather than reporting the theft, Ramaphosa attempted to cover it up by instructing his presidential protection unit to locate and detain the alleged thieves, subsequently bribing them to keep silent about the incident.
The theft reportedly occurred at Ramaphosa’s game farm in early 2020 but remained unreported until Fraser’s allegations came to light. The scandal forced Ramaphosa to admit the theft occurred and raised questions about his leadership ahead of a crucial party election.
Despite the controversy, Ramaphosa was reelected as president in June, with the investigation still ongoing. He faced additional accusations of money laundering, tax evasion, and breaching foreign currency laws but denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the funds came from legitimate buffalo sales at his Phala Phala game farm. Ramaphosa claimed he informed the head of his police protection unit about the theft but did not explain why the cash was hidden.
Prosecutors indicated that their decision to refrain from charging Ramaphosa or his security detail followed a thorough investigation process. The incident, dubbed “farmgate” in some circles, led to opposition parties attempting to initiate an impeachment motion against him in Parliament, which his African National Congress party successfully blocked in late 2022. Ramaphosa was also exonerated by the reserve bank and an independent oversight body.
Last year, two men and a woman—one believed to be an employee at Ramaphosa’s farm—were arrested and charged with breaking and entering and theft. Observers noted that the allegations against Ramaphosa could have been politically motivated, as Fraser is closely associated with former President Jacob Zuma, who resigned amid corruption allegations in 2018. The rivalry between Zuma and Ramaphosa has intensified in the political landscape of South Africa.
