SARS confirms that Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala stollen dollars not declared

The Democratic Alliance have revealed that the US stollen dollars hidden inside a couch on the Phala Phala farm of President Cyril Ramaphosa were not declared to SARS.

This comes as the South African tax authorities were not able to find any record of Hazim Mustafa, the Sudanese businessman who paid $580 000 in cash to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.

The DA obtained the information directly from SARS following a request submitted in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA).

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PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA VERSION OF THE SAGA

Towards the end of last year, President Ramaphosa claimed that he had received US$580 000 from one Hazim Mustafa as payment for cattle as part of a legitimate business transaction. Mustafa claimed in a media interview that he had complied with the requirement to declare the money to SARS officials at OR Tambo airport upon entering South Africa.

The SARS customs policy on excess currency stipulates that every person must declare foreign currency upon arrival in the country. Failure to adhere to this provision is an offence that may be criminally prosecuted.

SARS RESPOND TO DA REQUEST ON PHALA PHALA FARM US STOLLEN DOLLARS

DA Leader John Steenhuisen on 7 December 2022 submitted a PAIA request to SARS to obtain the relevant currency declaration forms that Mr. Hamiz Mustafa submitted to declare the US$580 000 that he was bringing into the country.

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The DA received SARS’ response on Monday morning.

“The information also adds further credence to the findings of the Section 89 panel’s report that there exists prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have violated the Constitution. The Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, as well as his oath of office. The ANC last year abused its majority in the National Assembly to reject the panel’s report and Ramaphosa vowed to overturn it in court,” said Steenhuisen.

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