Pallade Veneta - SAfrica prosecutors drop criminal complaint against president

A former spy boss had laid a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa following the break-in at his Phala Phala game farm in the northeastern Limpopo province, alleging the president had committed irregularities in trying to hide the theft of $4 million in cash.

Following an investigation by the police's specialised Hawks unit, the Limpopo prosecutor had "taken a decision not to prosecute anyone", the authority said in a statement. "She concluded that there is no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution based on evidence contained in the docket."

The complaint alleged Ramaphosa had been involved in money laundering and corruption related to the theft, the statement said. The Hawks also looked into possible violations of income tax and foreign exchange control regulations.

More than 150 statements were obtained in the investigation, National Prosecuting Authority spokesman Mthunzi Mhaga told the Newzroom Afrika channel. But the prosecutor decided that "the available evidence presented to prosecutors cannot sustain any charge".

The complaint against Ramaphosa was laid by Arthur Fraser, who had headed the state security agency between 2016 and 2018.

He claimed that Ramaphosa hid the $4-million robbery from police and tax authorities and instead organised the kidnapping and questioning of the robbers to then bribe them into silence.

The president has acknowledged a burglary but denied kidnapping and bribery, saying he reported the break-in to the police.

He has also disputed the amount of money involved and said it came from legitimate sales of game from his animal-breeding farm.

N.Tartaglione--PV