The acting public protector has cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing in her final report into the theft of millions worth of foreign currency at his private farm.
The investigation was prompted by complaints from African Transformation Movement president Vuyo Zungula, and Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen, following claims by former spy boss Arthur Fraser that the president attempted to cover up the theft of millions of dollars from his Phala Phala farm in February 2020.
Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka made public her findings at the chapter nine institution’s offices in Pretoria on Friday.
She said the evidence at her disposal indicated that Ramaphosa had declared his interests in the closed companies, and also stated that he received no remuneration other than as a member of the executive at the time of the alleged crime.
“No evidence could be found, indicating that the president either works at Phala Phala farm or receives remuneration from Phala Phala farm.”
Ramaphosa has held that he had been advised that there was no conflict of interest between his official responsibilities and the interests he’s kept at the closed companies operating Phala Phala farm.
Gcaleka found the president did not violate the executive ethics code.
“…the evidence does not support the allegation that the President’s financial interests in game and cattle farming at Phala Phala farm exposes him to any situation involving the risk of a conflict between his official responsibilities and his private interests.
“Accordingly, the allegation that the president improperly and in violation of the provisions of the Executive Ethics Code exposed him to any risk of a conflict between his constitutional duties and obligations and his private interests arising from or affected by his alleged paid work at Phala Phala farm, is not substantiated.”
The public protector, however, said it was not within the jurisdiction of her office to investigate the money at the centre of the scandal, adding she would leave it to the Hawks to probe the alleged failure to report the theft to the relevant authorities in line with the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
