Pretoria: Presidential spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, has dismissed any links between President Cyril Ramaphosa and corruption accused, Hangwani Maumela. This follows the circulation of a video on social media showing the President alongside popular DJ, Tbo Touch, and Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour, Jomo Sibiya, outside Maumela’s house.

According to South African Government News Agency, the video was taken during one of President Ramaphosa’s regular walks, an activity he engages in to maintain fitness. On this particular occasion, he invited Mr. Sibiya to join him. During their walk, they encountered Tbo Touch, who was with his mentor and friend, Bishop Noel Jones, outside a house now identified as Maumela’s. Magwenya clarified that the President was not visiting or exiting Maumela’s house but merely stopped to greet people along the way, including Tbo Touch.

Magwenya stated that Maumela’s house, the site of a Special Investigating Unit raid related to the Tembisa Hospital looting scandal, is sit
uated on a street often used by the President when traveling to and from Sandton. He emphasized that the President was unaware of whose house it was. The President’s Office confirmed with DJ Tbo Touch that the video and photos were originally posted by him and were taken during his journey from the airport to the Saxon Hotel. At the time of the encounter, Maumela’s house was under construction.

The spokesperson refuted claims that the President visits Maumela’s house weekly, describing such assertions as fabrications. He outlined that only a few categories of people regularly see the President, including his family, security detail, Union Buildings staff, and ANC officials. Magwenya highlighted that the President occasionally visits his sister in Soweto and his long-time comrade, Mr. James Motlatsi, but not on a weekly basis.

Addressing alleged personal ties between President Ramaphosa and Maumela, Magwenya asserted no such relationship exists, aside from Maumela’s past marriage to the President’s aunt. Mag
wenya mentioned an instruction given by the President to his immediate family to avoid business dealings with the government, a meeting Maumela did not attend due to not being part of the President’s immediate family.

Magwenya underscored President Ramaphosa’s commitment to fighting corruption, noting that it was the President who signed the proclamation for the Special Investigating Unit to probe the Tembisa Hospital scandal. The President urged law enforcement agencies to expedite their investigations into the matter, ensuring all involved are brought to justice, irrespective of their connections or relations.