ANC veteran Tokyo Sexwale has accused president Cyril Ramaphosa of being dishonest about the Phala Phala farm scandal.
This is after Sexwale challenged Ramaphosa’s version that the US dollars stolen from his Phala Phala farm were proceeds from the sale of cattle and game to a Sudanese businessman, identified as Hazim Mustafa.
Ramaphosa explained that the cash was left at the farm to secure future purchases, and it was stolen before it could be banked.
However, Sexwale said this explanation is a “cock-and-bull story”, adding that Ramaphosa should appear before the impeachment committee and answer questions related to Phala Phala.
The prominent businessman shared these views during an interview with Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh on the ‘SMWX’ podcast.
Sexwale is considered a top and highly influential figure in South African politics.
He was imprisoned for 13 years on Robben Island for his anti-apartheid activities, alongside figures such as Nelson Mandela, earning immense respect and struggle credentials within the ANC.
He has also served as the Gauteng premier and the country’s minister of human settlements.
In the interview, Sexwale said Ramaphosa has lied to “us”, adding that it is quite clear that he will have to appear before the impeachment committee and answer questions.
He said the idea that a foreign businessman showed up to buy cattle, found a deputy manager, and left a large sum of undeclared cash there is unbelievable.
“The entire explanation surrounding the hidden cash is a cock-and-bull story. It’s a childish story,” he said.
“This story must be tested. How did he come to this country with his dollars?” asked Sexwale, adding that Ramaphosa should provide answers to South Africans.
“The airport and South African Revenue Service records say he never arrived. He must answer to South Africans.”
Sexwale said the scandal was dragging down and damaging the credibility of critical state institutions.
These institutions include the South African Police Service, the South African Revenue Service, and the South African Reserve Bank.
“They will have to appear and explain how a man with so much money came into the country. He has put the name of our president in serious jeopardy.
“The country cannot be tortured like this, and we just remain quiet, hoping things will happen somewhere,” said Sexwale.
Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publication.
This comes after the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) ruled in December 2022 that the National Assembly acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally when it voted to reject the Section 89 independent panel report into Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala scandal.
This was after the report found prima facie evidence that president Ramaphosa may have committed a serious constitutional violation.
The ConCourt ordered the National Assembly to refer the report to an official parliamentary impeachment committee and amend its internal rules to prevent political parties from “gatekeeping” constitutional accountability.
Following the ruling, National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza initiated the establishment of a 31-member Section 89 impeachment committee tasked with reviewing the panel report and compiling a final report recommending whether Ramaphosa should be removed.
While most political parties met the Friday deadline to submit the names of their representatives, the ANC reportedly missed the deadline due to internal disputes over member of parliament deployments.
Political analyst Sandile Swana says Sexwale’s views reflect the fact that there are different opinions about the Phala Phala scandal among senior ANC leaders.
Swana says he also believes that the revenue service, the reserve bank, and the police were compromised by the scandal.
“We expect that a full inquiry will reveal that there are officials within SARS, SARB and SAPS who did not do their job properly, and were part of the cover-up for Phala Phala.
That is why we are saying Ramaphosa and the ANC cannot easily survive the impact of the Phala Phala scandal once the inquiry goes into sessions, because it is going to reveal that state institutions were compromised by Ramaphosa and the ANC,” he said. – IOL News
