Phala Phala: Kieswetter’s remarks don’t exonerate Ramaphosa’s actions nor prove his innocence
8 March 2023
ActionSA notes the statement by SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter, regarding the tax compliance of President Ramaphosa and his companies, but this does not negate the legitimate concerns over the non-disclosure of the cash stolen from the Phala Phala farm.
Earlier this week, SARS confirmed that it was unable to locate any record that Hazim Mustafa declared the over $580 000 in cash he brought into the country in December 2019 in accordance with our laws. The cash was subsequently handed to an employee of Phala Phala, who stashed it in a couch on the farm.
While Kieswetter spoke broadly to the President’s tax compliance, he did not specifically address the question of whether the sale involving Mustafa was correctly recorded and accounted for as part of the farm’s tax return. Failure to have done so would amount to tax evasion.
Moreover, Kieswetter’s statement does not negate the fact that the cash was not deposited into a South African bank account in accordance with our foreign exchange regulations.