South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will not face criminal charges related to a hidden cash scandal that came to light over two years ago, as confirmed by prosecutors on Thursday.
The controversy began when former national security chief Arthur Fraser filed a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa in June 2022, accusing him of kidnapping, bribery, and other offenses linked to the theft of $580,000 in U.S. banknotes hidden in a couch at the president’s ranch.
Fraser alleged that Ramaphosa concealed the cash in furniture at his ranch to avoid South Africa’s foreign currency regulations when it was stolen. Instead of reporting the theft, Ramaphosa purportedly attempted to cover it up by instructing members of his presidential protection unit to track down the culprits, kidnap them, and bribe them to remain silent about the money, according to Fraser’s affidavit filed with the police.
The incident occurred in early 2020 at Ramaphosa’s game farm in rural northern South Africa and remained under wraps until Fraser’s allegations emerged, forcing Ramaphosa to acknowledge the theft and creating turmoil for his presidency ahead of a key party leadership vote.
Despite the scandal, he was reelected as the South African leader in June, even as the criminal investigation continued. Ramaphosa, 71, also faced accusations of money laundering, tax evasion, and violations of foreign currency laws regarding the cash, which he claimed was derived from the legitimate sale of buffaloes at his Phala Phala game farm.
Ramaphosa stated that he reported the theft to the head of his police protection unit but did not clarify why the money was hidden in the couch.
Prosecutors announced that the decision not to charge Ramaphosa or any members of his security detail followed a “comprehensive investigation process.” The scandal, sometimes dubbed “farmgate” in South Africa, prompted opposition parties to introduce an impeachment motion against Ramaphosa in Parliament. However, his African National Congress party used its majority to block the motion in late 2022, and both the reserve bank and an independent watchdog also cleared him.
Last year, two men and a woman—one of whom was reportedly employed at Ramaphosa’s farm—were arrested and charged with breaking and entering as well as theft.
The allegations against Ramaphosa were perceived by some as politically motivated, given Fraser’s close ties to former South African President Jacob Zuma, who resigned in 2018 amid corruption allegations and was succeeded by Ramaphosa, his former vice president. Since then, Zuma and Ramaphosa have become fierce political rivals.
