Cape Town – The investigation into the robbery that took place at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in 2020 is ongoing, Hawks boss General Godfrey Lebeya reportedly said on Friday.
Lebeya said this during a media briefing.
According to News24, he said that 126 statements had been collected by investigators.
“We have 126 statements as we speak, there has been a lot of investigation. As we have indicated that no stone shall be left unturned, so we do not just indicate who is saying what or from where the witnesses are coming from and what informs the next step,” Eye Witness News quoted Lebeya as saying.
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In November last year, Lebeya said his unit had obtained 68 statements regarding Phala Phala, stating that investigations were continuing but they were not “reporting blow-by-blow” on the matter,” Times Live reported.
Ramaphosa, who was a wealthy businessman before entering politics, found himself in hot water in June last year when a controversial ex-spy boss Arthur Fraser filed a complaint against him to the police.
Fraser alleged that Ramaphosa had concealed the theft of several million dollars from his farm in 2020.
He accused the president of having the burglars kidnapped and bribed into silence instead of reporting the matter to the authorities.
Ramaphosa has not been charged with any crime and has denied wrongdoing.
The president acknowledged the theft of $580 000 in cash that was stashed under sofa cushions at his farm.
He said the money was payment for buffaloes bought by a Sudanese businessman, who recently confirmed the transaction in interviews with British media.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
