Cape Town – Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa has reportedly confirmed the purchase of 20 buffaloes for $580 000 at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.
According to Sky News, Mustafa claimed he bought the animals through a broker and was initially not aware the buffaloes or the farm belonged to Ramaphosa.
In June, it emerged that an estimated $$580 000 in cash was stolen from Ramaphosa’s game farm in 2020, raising questions about how the billionaire president acquired the money and whether he declared it.
Mustafa said when the buffalo deal was done, the Phala Phala game farm was suppose to prepare the animals for export, but the Covid-19 pandemic interrupted the deal plans.
“The Covid-19 lockdown happened and there was delay after delay after delay… It took too long, so I didn’t get my money back but there is an understanding that I will be refunded,” he was quoted as saying.
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The businessman also explained how he brought such a substantial amount of cash into the country and checked it at the OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.
“I declared it, in Johannesburg – yes, O.R Tambo airport,” Mustafa was quoted as saying, although he refused to show the declaration forms, sighting the current parliamentary process.
“$580 000 is nothing for a businessman like me. I don’t know what the big issue is,” said Mustafa.
An independent panel probing the Phala Phala farm scandal found enough evidence to warrant a parliamentary debate on whether Ramaphosa should be impeached.
The panel found that the president may have committed” serious violations and misconduct including not reporting the theft directly to police, acting in a way inconsistent with holding office and exposing himself to a clash between his official responsibilities and his private business.
Several political parties have called for Ramaphosa to resign, as the country’s president following the damning findings.
Parliament was set to debate the matter on Tuesday, but it was delayed by a week after it was decided to allow those involved to travel to be physically present for the vote.
The debate will convene in Cape Town on Tuesday, December 13.
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Picture: Facebook/ Hazim Mustafa Mohamed
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Compiled by Olwethu Mpeshe
