Politics

South African Parliament appoints independent panel to probe President Ramaphosa over farm robbery scandal

Published

2 years ago

September 16, 2022

South Africa’s Parliament has appointed an independent panel to probe President Cyril Ramaphosa over an armed robbery scandal that took place at his Phala-Phala farm which erupted in June after former national spy boss, Arthur Fraser, filed a complaint with the police.

Fraser had alleged that the robbers had broken into the President’s farm in the northeast region of the country where they stole $4m in cash stashed in furniture.

Fraser had added that Ramaphosa had hidden the robbery from authorities and instead organised for the robbers to be kidnapped, questioned and then bribed into silence.

Though Ramaphosa had acknowledged the burglary at his farm, he denied the accusations of kidnapping and bribery, saying he reported the break-in to the police.

He had also disputed the amount of money involved in the robbery and said the cash came from legitimate sales of game from his animal-breeding farm.

But on Thursday, the National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, named a three-man panel headed by former Chief Justice, Sandile Ngcobo, including a former High Court judge and a university professor to determine if the President should face impeachment over the alleged cover-up of a heist at his luxury farmhouse.

The panel has 30 days to report its findings to the Parliament.

The move to set up the panel was championed by a small opposition party, the African Transformation Movement (ATM), which has been clamouring for the impeachment of Ramaphosa.

The ATM has also been joined in the effort to remove the President by a faction of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has been teaming up with anti-Ramaphosa groups demanding his removal.

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

4 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.