A new day and a new cane on the back of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Since the revelation that millions of dollars were stashed in his Phala Phala farm and were then stolen by thieves, who were themselves later arrested and made to return the money, the president has had no peace.
Now, to keep the heist in memory and to ensure that the case is not buried under the desk, South Africans have taken to calling the president Mr Phala Phala – in relation to his farm’s name.
Trouble had started for the president following the departure of police chief Arthur Fraser. After his exit, the Fraser had opened a can of worms, noting in a submission to the SAPS that President Ramaphosa had kept millions of dollars in his Phala Phala farm, which were then stolen in collaboration with a farmhand.
According to Fraser, the thieves had been secretly arrested and the money recovered from them without the president informing the police – as he should by law. There was also the question of the source of the money. Was it public funds? Fraser accused Ramaphosa of money laundering, among others.
Normalize making everyday a #PhalaPhalaFarmGate day until Mr Phala Phala goes. #Ramaphosamustfallpic.twitter.com/8Hagrv12rQ
— All drugs should be legal ® 🇿🇦 (@AfricaisBlack) July 7, 2022
Thus was born an advocacy to hold the president to account. And thus was Mr Phala Phala.
