Ramaphosa pressured Fraser to resign amid Phala Phala scandal

Former South African State Security Agency director-general Arthur Fraser has made a series of fresh allegations against Cyril Ramaphosa during an appearance on Unpopular Opinion, claiming the president asked him to resign and that he was later offered millions of rand to withdraw the Phala Phala criminal complaint.

Fraser, who opened a criminal case in 2022 over the alleged cover-up of a burglary at Ramaphosa's Phala Phala Farm, alleged that the president told him he had become “a liability" to both the ANC and government.

Speaking on the podcast hosted by Mzilikazi wa Afrika, Fraser claimed Ramaphosa said he was facing pressure from the Democratic Alliance and asked him to step down.

“So he says, 'You know, I'm under pressure, I need you to resign,'" Fraser alleged during the interview.

He also claimed Ramaphosa accused him of supporting Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma during the ANC's 2017 Nasrec elective conference.

Fraser further alleged that shortly after opening the Phala Phala case, he was offered more than R50 million to make the matter “go away".

According to Fraser, the alleged offer was made by slain underworld figure Mark Lifman, whom he claimed was linked to one of the president's advisers.

“I was offered R50 million plus to collapse this case," Fraser said, adding that he was allegedly told he could insert any figure he wanted.

He also alleged that he was promised a senior government position in exchange for withdrawing the complaint.

The former correctional services commissioner additionally accused Ramaphosa of authorising the tracing of Namibian nationals allegedly linked to the theft of foreign currency from the farm during the Covid-19 period.

The allegations come days after Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled unconstitutional a parliamentary process that halted impeachment proceedings linked to the Phala Phala matter.

The court also invalidated a December 2022 vote in the National Assembly of South Africa where ANC MPs blocked adoption of a Section 89 panel report that found Ramaphosa may have had a case to answer.

Attempts to obtain comment from presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya and ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri were reportedly unsuccessful.

Following the Constitutional Court judgment, the Presidency said Ramaphosa remained committed to the Constitution, judicial independence and the rule of law.

The Presidency added that the president maintains that no one is above the law and that all allegations should be subjected to due legal process.