Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala neighbours frown at interest in ‘old robbery’

President Cyril Ramaphosa is said to have a special relationship with the people of Vingerkraal located near his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo, which was robbed two years ago but was only made known this month.

The residents once served in the apartheid security forces in South West Africa (now Namibia) fighting against Swapo. 

When he visits the village near Bela-Bela, Ramaphosa does not schedule formal meetings to address issues of service delivery with them. He is also said to communicate with them when he wants to hire staff for his game farm.

“Ramaphosa’s relationship with us started before he became president of the country,” said Vingerkraal’s leader, Peter Mabunda.

“The community mingles freely with the president. He doesn’t need to have bodyguards lurking behind him during his visits. 

“This ward [9] was under the Democratic Alliance in the past few years but since Ramaphosa became president of the country, the community has decided to vote for the ANC,” said Mabunda. 

He said they have seen changes in their lives in terms of service delivery because Ramaphosa has a special bond with them. 

“The president is a ratepayer and a citizen of this area.” 

He said Ramaphosa “always” visits Vingerkraal and this didn’t stop even after the robbery. Neither did he discuss the theft with them in public.

And Vingerkraal is the eyes and ears of the president, especially after the robbery. 

“That’s why he consults us here when he wants to hire staff for [Phala Phala],” Mabunda said.

According to an affidavit deposed by former spy boss Arthur Fraser at Johannesburg’s Rosebank police station, four Namibians and two South Africans took part in the robbery on 9 February 2020.

They allegedly worked with Ramaphosa’s housekeeper, who has reportedly now been given other duties. 

Some suggested the robbers were trained military personnel but residents avoided talking about the robbery. 

When the Mail & Guardian visited the village, which has an estimated population of 1 200, last Saturday, people had gathered at Vingerkraal Secondary School. 

They had been invited by the Bela-Bela local municipality to verify their applications for low-cost houses. 

This will see the roll-out of 215 subsidised housing units at Vingerkraal.

While speaking to Mabunda, a ward committee member asked to be excused.

Mabunda said she was worried that the presence of journalists could lead to the residents losing their houses if a negative story was written about Ramaphosa. 

But Mabunda said he had assured her that whatever was published in the media would not jeopardise their chances of being granted new houses.

The RDP houses are being built for the former Namibians, who have been living in shacks since 1996 when the village was formed.

Bela-Bela local municipality spokesperson Peter Moloto said the government had bought a farm for the former soldiers. 

That farm was named Masakhane (let us build each other).

But they did not feel comfortable staying there because of their past during apartheid.

“They were integrated back into the community of South Africa, but they chose not to stay there [at Masakhane] because of their military background. They went to stay in Vingerkraal,” said Moloto.

“They also work at local guest houses and lodges around Bela-Bela where they are offering security services for those establishments.” 

The former soldiers, who have families in South Africa, were never allowed entry into Namibia after Sam Nujoma became the president when the country gained independence from South Africa on 21 March 1990.

When the ANC took over as the government of South Africa, the former soldiers were allowed to remain in the country. They were also offered South African citizenship. Some of them were integrated into the South African National Defence Force.

One source said it was not easy for drug addicts and thugs to carry out criminal activities in Vingerkraal.

When the M&G was in a spaza shop owned by a local woman and asked questions about the robbery at Ramaphosa’s farm, they were threatened by some people. 

Another woman, who said she is from Msogwaba, near Nelspruit, told the journalists to stop asking questions about Ramaphosa. She asked why journalists would ask about a case that happened a few years ago and said they should leave if they did not want to get hurt or killed.

She was in the company of two other women and three men.

One of the men, who was drinking beer, demanded to know why it mattered if the president was robbed of millions of dollars. 

“That money is finished. Those people must have used the whole money because they bought expensive cars, flats and renovated their homes in Namibia,” said the man, who did not want to be named. 

The woman from Msogwaba, who also requested anonymity, said the story of Melania Ndacha Rubena, a three-year-old who was raped and murdered in November 2019, never received media coverage.

Her body was discovered in a stream on the night of 17 November, after a search party initiated by the residents.

Melania’s aunt, who was present, said she didn’t want to talk about the rape and murder. The woman from Msogwaba said a 30-year-old suspect was still in custody. 

According to media reports, the owner of the farm allegedly told residents where the suspect was hiding. 

He was taken to the bushes and severely assaulted until police came to his rescue. 

The suspect is still behind bars after being denied bail. 

Meanwhile, the Ankole Cattle Breeders Society of South Africa will hold its auction at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm on Saturday. He will be selling a few long-horned Ankole, which are from his Ntaba Nyoni farm near eManzana (formerly called Badplaas) in Mpumalanga.Moloto said there was a joint operating committee meeting last week in preparation for the auction. — Mukurukuru Media

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