South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa, To Appear Before Party's Integrity Commission Over Theft Case

 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, bogged down in a burglary scandal, will appear before his party's integrity commission, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) said on Monday. The ANC "welcomed the President's decision to voluntarily present himself to the ANC Integrity Committee," it said in an undated statement. Haunted by political infighting, the ANC is attempting to rejuvenate itself by rooting out corruption, and members facing criminal charges are systematically suspended. The party is expected to nominate its candidate for the 2024 national election in the next few months. As of last week, Ramaphosa, 69, has been weakened by allegations that he was complicit in buying the silence of burglars who stumbled upon large sums of money on one of his properties. The case began in February 2020, according to the complaint filed by former South African intelligence chief Arthur Fraser at a Johannesburg police station on Wednesday. Robbers are said to have broken into Ramaphosa's phala phala farm in the northeast of the country, where they found $4 million in cash hidden in furniture. Ramaphosa himself has disputed the amount of money in question, but accepted that he buys and sells animals "sometimes through cash or wire transfers." “I have never stolen money from anywhere and never will. I've never stolen from taxpayers," Ramaphosa added.

The case accuses Ramaphosa of concealing the theft from the police and tax authorities. It is sensationally claimed that the President "paid" the burglars "for their silence". Fraser, who said he provided police with "photos, bank accounts, names and videos," accused Ramaphosa of obstructing justice and organizing the kidnapping of the suspects, interrogating them on his property and paying them. In the past, members of the ANC have been removed from office on the recommendations of the Integrity Commission.

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