A trial has begun in South Africa involving three individuals accused of housebreaking and stealing a substantial amount of U.S. currency—approximately $580,000—hidden in a couch at a game farm owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The incident, which occurred in 2020, has sparked controversy and scrutiny over Ramaphosa’s possible involvement and alleged breaches of tax‑evasion, money‑laundering, and foreign‑currency laws. The case, dubbed “farmgate,” carries significant implications for a president who campaigned on an anti‑corruption platform.
Ramaphosa has been cleared of wrongdoing and survived an impeachment vote in Parliament, yet questions persist about why such a large sum of money was stored in a couch. He attributes the cash to the legitimate sale of animals at his Phala Phala game and livestock farm, but he has not offered a clear explanation for its placement in the furniture. The three defendants—including a former cleaner at the farm—have pleaded not guilty. They face charges of housebreaking, conspiracy to commit housebreaking, and theft; one defendant also faces a money‑laundering charge.
The trial, expected to last three weeks, will see prosecutors call 20 witnesses, including staff members from Ramaphosa’s farm. The case first came to public attention in June 2022 when former head of the state security agency Arthur Fraser filed a complaint alleging that Ramaphosa had hidden $4 million in the couch and had used his personal police security detail to track down the thieves and bribe them into silence. Ramaphosa and authorities have disputed Fraser’s figures, and investigations by the police and financial regulators have cleared him of any misconduct.
The outcome of the trial is being closely watched, especially after Ramaphosa’s recent re‑election for a second term. His party, the African National Congress, lost its 30‑year majority and now governs through a coalition. The proceedings therefore extend beyond the immediate theft, reflecting broader concerns about corruption and governance in South Africa and promising to shed further light on the ongoing “farmgate” scandal.
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