KEY POINTS
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Mohammed Ameen’s possession of undeclared foreign currency led to his conviction.
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ATM demands Ramaphosa answer for Phala Phala scandal in court.
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Zungula criticizes double standards in the treatment of the two cases.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has demanded that President Ramaphosa answer for the Phala Phala scandal following the conviction and sentencing of Mohammed Ameen.
Ameen, 45, entered a plea agreement with the state and was found guilty. He faced charges of money laundering and contravention of Exchange Control Regulations, charges the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) refused to pursue against Ramaphosa regarding Phala Phala.
South African Customs Services intercepted Ameen on October 11, 2017, at Cape Town International Airport.
A search of his luggage revealed $544,200 in American dollars and R2,955,000 in South African currency. He was en route to Dubai and was immediately arrested after the discovery.
Phala Phala scandal sparks outrage, Ramaphosa faces no charges
According to IOL, the Phala Phala scandal emerged in 2023 when reports revealed that thieves stole thousands of US dollars from Ramaphosa’s farm during a 2020 break-in. They hid the money in couches, failing to declare it as required by law.
Authorities did not file an initial police report, raising suspicions about the cash’s legality. The source of the money remains unclear.
A panel set up by former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula found that Ramaphosa may have violated his oath of office. Despite this, several state and Chapter 9 institutions cleared him of wrongdoing.
ATM demands accountability for Phala Phala scandal
ATM, along with other political parties, insists that Ramaphosa has a case to answer. The party has launched a court application challenging some of the reports clearing him.
ATM’s leader, Vuyo Zungula, told Cape Times that Ameen’s case exposed double standards in South Africa’s law enforcement.
Zungula argued that both cases involved undeclared large sums of foreign and local currency. However, Ameen, unlike Ramaphosa, lacked political connections. “The rich and powerful are exempt from accountability,” he added.
