By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Reserve Bank has asked legal advisers for President Cyril Ramaphosa to respond to requests for further information as it probes the theft of an unspecified foreign currency from a game farm he owns.
The Financial Surveillance Department, which administers exchange-control regulations, expects to proceed with its investigation once the responses are received, Governor Lesetja Kganyago said in a letter to the opposition Democratic Alliance on Tuesday.
Kganyago said following press reports about the robbery its Financial Surveillance Department had written to Ramaphosa’s legal advisors on 20 June requesting “information and details regarding the origin of the foreign currency and any underlying transaction that may pertain to it.”
The bank had initially given Ramaphosa 21 business days to respond to the letter and subsequently granted an extension of 15 working days.
The letter states: The department has since received a response from the president’s legal advisors to which further information and details were requested by the department. A response to this additional request for information is required and expected no later than 8 September, thereafter the department will be able to progress its investigation into the matter.
Kganyago’s letter to the committee follows letters written to it by two of the committee members EFF deputy leader Floyd Shivambu and the DA MP Dion George.
The SARB administers SA’s exchange control regulations and investigates contraventions. Under the regulations, all foreign currency transactions must be reported to the bank within 30 days.
Kganyago’s letter requesting information confirms that Ramaphosa did not report the transaction as required by law.
Ramphosa faced a chaotic and humiliating question session in Parliament where for several hours he declined to answer questions on Phala Phala, citing legal advice.
Meanwhile Presidency said it is “concerned” after “claims made in the National Assembly” that Ramaphosa refused to answer a question on Phala, presidency said in a statement on Wednesday.
This follows Tuesday’s question session, where Ramaphosa refused to answer the question on Phala Phala.
“On a proper reading of the question, Ramaphosa did, in fact, answer the question,” said Presidency.”
The President responded that he stands ready to take the nation into his confidence and that he would do so through the due legal and Parliamentary processes.”
Ramaphosa further indicated that he has responded, and will continue to respond, to all the questions that have been put to him by the relevant authorities.
“It is clear from the President’s reply that he considers it prudent to account on this matter through the due processes.
“This is consistent with what the President has said from the outset that there is no basis for the claims of criminal conduct that have been made against him, and that he will provide any information that the relevant authorities require,” The Presidency said.