The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has renewed calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to be held accountable for the 2020 Phala Phala farm scandal, following his high-profile meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
Reacting to the meeting which was dominated by Trump’s controversial remarks about a so-called “white genocide” and land seizures in South Africa MK Party National Spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela sharply criticized Ramaphosa, labeling him a “fugitive from justice.”
“What you have there sitting next to Donald Trump is a fugitive from justice,” said Ndhlela. “They should be prosecuting him and asking how he was found with all those dollars on his couch. That farm is a crime scene.”
Ndhlela argued that, in addition to addressing Trump's claims about land and race-related violence, Ramaphosa should have used the opportunity to explain the source of the approximately $580,000 that was allegedly stolen from a couch at his Phala Phala farm, a scandal that sparked domestic and international scrutiny.
The MK Party has previously urged U.S. authorities to probe the incident under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), suggesting Ramaphosa may have violated international anti-corruption laws.
“This is what should be happening,” said Ndhlela. “They are sitting with a person who has caused criminality. He must be held accountable in terms of U.S. law as well.”
The Phala Phala controversy continues to cast a shadow over Ramaphosa’s presidency, with opposition parties questioning both the origin of the funds and the secrecy surrounding the incident. While Ramaphosa has denied any wrongdoing, critics argue that the matter remains unresolved and undermines the integrity of his administration.
There has been no official response from the presidency regarding the MK Party's latest remarks.