31 questions to Ramaphosa that got Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane suspended as Public Protector
Before Cyril Ramaphosa suspended her, Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane had 31 questions for him regarding the alleged theft of foreign currency from his Phala Phala game farm…
Adv. Busisiwe Mkhwebane
Ramaphosa had 14 working days to provide detailed responses and records to the alleged robbery on February 9 2020 of $4 million (R60 million) said to have been concealed in couches at his game farm in Waterberg, Limpopo to the Public Protector's investigating team that is conducting a preliminary inquiry into the allegations.
THE 31 QUESTIONS: “Cyril it’s easy to love me, now, but will you love me if I was investigating your farm?”
THE ANSWER WAS: "You are suspended."
1. The president was also expected to indicate whether he had any financial interests in the Phala Phala farm. He was asked to provide answers as whether he had declared such interests to Parliament as required by the code of ethics.
2. You are further requested to indicate the nature and value of any financial interests held by you in the Phala Phala farm, as a commercial entity, whether the said premises or the property at Phala Phala farm belong to you or is registered under your name or under the name of any of your [companies] where you own a stake. Kindly explain the nature of this business.
3. How much was recovered? When was it recovered? Where was it recovered? Who recovered it? From whom was it recovered? Was any person(s) interviewed, interrogated. arrested and charged for such a crime?
4. Mkhwebane also wanted confirmation from Romaphosa “whether there was any cash to the tune $4 million stashed within your premises at Phala Phala farm.” If yes, she tasked the president to clarify the following:
5. The source of the cash.
6. Any register, receipt or other proof to indicate the source of such cash.
7. The nature of the trade transaction from which the cash emanated.
8. The purpose of such cash.
9. The name of the countries and persons the president was trading with and who paid the, money in this regard.
10. The permits for such trade at the time, if there are any, and copies thereof.
11. Whether or not such permit or regulations allow an auctioneer to accept hard cash on site.
Cyril Ramaphosa and his wife Dr Tshepo Motsepe at their Phalaphala farm in Bela-Bela. On its website, the property is described as a privately owned 4 500 hectare wildlife game farm situated some 43 km west of Bela-Bela in the Limpopo Province.
12. The exact amount in rands of such other foreign currency and proof thereof.
13. The date(s) in which such cash was received at Phala Phala farm and the name of the person who received it.
14. The exact manner in which the cash was kept or stored at Phala Phala farm.
15. The reasons the cash was kept or stored at Phala Phala farm and not at the bank:
16. How long the cash was kept on the premises.
17. Whether or not the costs was declared to Sars. If yes for the president to attach proof thereof.
18. Whether or not Phala Phala farm pays tax for sales or auction of any stock as required by Sars. If yes, for the president to attach proof thereof and:
19. Whether or not Phala Phala farm holds any bank account. If yes, the Public Protector asked to be furnished with the bank details.
20. Clarify on whether there was a robbery and/or theft of cash at the farm on February 9 2020. If yes, she wanted to know:
21. How much was stolen.
22. Whether the crime was reported to the police, and if yes:
23. Please provide the date on which the matter was reported.
24. The name of the police station and the CAS (Crime Administration System) number
25. If not please, explain why the matter was not reported to the police station.
26. The Public Protector also wanted to know whether the stolen money was recovered or not. If yes:
27. How much was recovered?
28. When was it recovered? Where was it recovered? Who recovered it? From whom was it recovered? Was any person’s interviewed, interrogated, arrested and charged for such a crime?
29. She also requested Ramaphosa to provide the name(s) of his domestic worker(s) who were based on the farm at the time, including those who were present on the premises on the day of the alleged robbery or theft.
30. Clarify on whether the president gave Major General Wally Rhoode, the head of the presidential security unit, specific instructions to deal with the matter without reporting it to the police. If yes, what were those instructions? Please explain whether General Rhoode gave you regular updates on his investigation of this matter [and if there were] any other steps you took to ensure that the alleged theft of cash was thoroughly investigated.
31 Mkhwebane also requested any other reformation that Ramaphosa may deem appropriate to bring to her attention 'in order to assist the speedy finalisation of this matter.
