By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa distanced himself from Hangwani Maumela, a controversial tender tycoon implicated in the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital looting scandal.
This comes after a viral video showed Ramaphosa outside Maumela’s mansion, speaking with radio personality DJ Tbo Touch and Deputy Minister of Labour and Employment Jomo Sibiya.
Presidency spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, says the video was recorded on September 29, 2023, and they were not visiting Maumela’s house, as the President was on his usual walk when he was stopped.
Magwenya was speaking at a media briefing at the Union Buildings on Monday.
“It is well known that President Ramaphosa loves to walk whenever he finds time, that is how he keeps himself fit. On this day he had invited Sibiya on a walk, which it’s something he does regularly to invite his staff, even ministers for walks.
“They passed a house which is now well known as Maumela’s house. As they were passing this house, they were stopped by Tbo Touch, who was in the company of his mentor and friend, Bishop Noel Jones. They took pictures and recorded a video. During the walk, the president had stopped and spoke to several people along the way, including taking pictures with those people.” said Magwenya.
The video surfaced online just days after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) raided one of the Maumela’s properties. Investigators discovered signs of immense wealth, including three Lamborghinis, a massage parlour, and a fully equipped home salon. The luxury vehicles were later removed without incident, while large trucks transported other seized assets.
Maumela has been implicated in the R2.3 billion Tembisa Hospital fraud and corruption scandal.
According to an SIU report, he is accused of leading a syndicate that siphoned over R800 million from the hospital through fraudulent tenders, as part of a broader R2 billion corruption scheme.
Maumela’s connection to Ramaphosa stems from a previous marriage, as the latter was once married to his aunt.
Responding to claims linking Ramaphosa to Maumela, Magwenya firmly rejected the claims, adding that suggestions of a close relationship or regular visits by the President are false.
“With his extremely busy schedule, there are 4 categories of people that can say they see the President every week. His family, his security detail, his Union Buildings staff, in particular, Private Office Staff and ANC officials that he meets every Monday, “said Magwenya.
Magwenya also said that it was Ramaphosa himself who signed the proclamation authorising the SIU investigation into corruption at Tembisa Hospital.
NDPP Head
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has criticized the president’s choice of panel to nominate the next National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), which the party argues lacks sufficient legal expertise.
Magwenya said Ramaphosa remained confident in the panel’s composition.
“The president is satisfied that the individuals appointed to that panel are fit for purpose and suited to the task of assisting him in selecting the next NDPP,” he said.
The panel has been mandated to conduct an open and transparent process, calling for public nominations, shortlisting and interviewing candidates, and submitting three suitable nominees to the president along with a full report within three months.
Ramaphosa has stressed the importance of the NDPP’s role in upholding the rule of law and ensuring the independence and integrity of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Israel/Hamas peace deal
Magwenya said the government views the truce and the commitment to release hostages as positive developments but cautioned that this marks only the beginning of a much longer journey towards peace.
“We do welcome the developments that have emerged, the ceasefire and the commitment to release hostages. However, this is only the beginning of what needs to be a very long and determined process that will result in a two-state solution, with an independent Palestine existing peacefully side by side,” Magwenya said.
He reiterated SA’s continued support for a negotiated two-state solution as the only path to lasting peace and stability in the Middle East.