Ramaphosa farm theft: Money stolen from game farm the earnings from private sales, transactions
- President Cyril Ramaphosa has confirmed cash was stolen from a farm he owns in Limpopo.
- While the true amount is yet to be disclosed, former spy boss Arthur Fraser has alleged more than US$4 million was taken and recovered.
- The confirmation of the theft has raised serious questions around the nature of large cash transactions involving Ramaphosa's businesses.
The money stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa's game farm in Limpopo was not the earnings from one of the many lucrative auctions of rare game in the province, but that of a deal between the president and private breeders or investors.
The president's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya told News24 the money was paid to Ramaphosa by buyers who visited the farm, Phala Phala, "from time to time".
Ramaphosa is a regular participant in game auctions in Limpopo where breeders of exotic game bid millions of rand on various animals in what has become a lucrative industry.
"This is what happens since the president owns and runs a game breeding farm. In the normal course of some operations, clients will come in and out, look at game, and buy game, that's just a normal thing.
"During this particular time, the transactions were not necessarily from an auction, it was just a transaction that took place at the farm. And there were some cash payments made - some clients would use the normal banking platforms, others would pay cash.
"So, once that cash is received it will then get managed accordingly against the invoices raised and so on," Magwenya said.
Ramaphosa is an avid game breeder and seller with large transactions over the years making headlines - just last month one of his prize Ankole bulls, Mufasa, sold for R700 000 at auction. Over the years, the auction of game has netted Ramaphosa's farms millions.
The president owns two farms - the 5 000-hectare Ntaba Nyoni in Mpumalanga, and between 2011 and 2014 he bought 4 500 hectares of farmland near Bela-Bela in Limpopo, Phala Phala, where rare antelope, cattle and buffalo are bred.
These estates seemed to be worth in excess of R100 million, according to the deeds office.
Phala Phala is part of the Stud Game Breeders, a group of breeders that include Ramaphosa, former SAB chief executive Norman Adami, Jacques Malan, Tony and Richard Morton as well as Johan and Nadien Bosch.
Auctions of buffalo and other game by these breeders often fetch record prices. They all pride themselves on breeding outstanding and often rare, disease-free animals to be sold in a competitive market.
Phala Phala's general manager, Hendrik von Wielligh, would not venture into detail when contacted by phone on Thursday, saying only it was not unheard of for transactions to be in cash, although the majority of deals were done through bank transfers.
He would not be drawn on the identity of the cash buyer, saying he would rather let police enquiries take their course.
A well-placed source in Limpopo with working knowledge of events at Phala Phala indicated the money was seemingly related to a foreign investor and buyer.
News24 was not able to confirm the exact amount of cash that was taken, or if it was in rands or dollars.
Confirmation from the Presidency on Thursday that money was stolen during a robbery at his farm in Limpopo in February 2020 has raised serious questions over the apparent inflow of large amounts of cash into Ramaphosa's game breeding ventures.
On Wednesday, former State Security Agency (SSA) director-general Arthur Fraser issued a press statement alleging that on 9 February 2020, a burglary took place at the Limpopo farm, and according to him, roughly US$4 million in cash was taken.
He opened a case at the Rosebank police station, claiming Ramaphosa had hidden the incident from police and the taxman, and according to the statement, had provided police with video evidence of the theft.
Fraser alleged the suspects were caught, kidnapped and interrogated, and he believed crimes of defeating the ends of justice, kidnapping and money laundering were committed.
Police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe confirmed a case had been registered and "due processes" would follow.
Magwenya issued a statement on Thursday, confirming the incident but denied Fraser's claims.
He said the "proceeds from the sale of game were stolen".
The auction of cattle was halted by the government between 2019 and mid-February 2020 due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease. The robbery took place just days before the government lifted the ban.
Red flags
The president's confirmation that cash was stolen immediately has raised concerns.
One forensic expert, a senior executive at a respected forensic law firm who asked not to be named so he could speak freely, said money laundering in the wildlife trade was an area South Africa needed to address.
"At the moment, there is a broader problem for South Africa, we have been criticised in our latest mutual evaluation with the Financial Action Task Force [FATF] for not doing enough to tackle money laundering. The trade in wildlife and casinos has been specifically highlighted as areas that are open to abuse," they said.
"This is an issue for government to clamp down on and address, because it is creating concerns on the part of the FATF regarding compliance with the recommendations. The report was quite scathing."
Another leading figure in agriculture with extensive knowledge of the wildlife industry said cash transactions were common, with auctions mostly being online and widespread suspicion that money laundering could play a role in some transactions.
Concerned
A source close to the president's security detail told News24 Ramaphosa was first concerned about a security breach at his farm, but did not know money was stolen from the premises.
At first, there was concern about the wellbeing of the animals on the farm given the fact he owns breeding buffalos worth millions.
The insider said only weeks later after the African Union Summit and State of the Nation Address in Parliament, did the president realise the money was stolen.
The well-placed source noted Major-General Wally Rhoode, the head of Ramaphosa's VIP Protection Unit, immediately began an investigation into the matter.
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"The farm was not under the care of the presidential protection unit. Ramaphosa didn't want us to install security there because of what happened at Nkandla. So, after this incident we had to secure the farm," the insider said.
Two sources close to the Union Buildings added they believed Fraser overstated the amount of money stolen from the premises.
Ramaphosa's allies believe Fraser’s accusations were a red herring amid talks of looming criminal charges against him and a close confidante at the SSA.
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The biggest business, economic and market news of the day, by Fin24 deputy editor, Ahmed Areff.
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