I have never stolen from the taxpayer - Ramaphosa
President Cyril Ramaphosa has spoken out for the first time since a criminal complaint was laid in connection with a theft on his private farm in Limpopo.
Former spy boss Arthur Fraser has accused the president of organising the "kidnapping of suspects, their interrogation on his property, and bribery" after money was stolen on his farm in Bela Bela.
Ramaphosa addressed the ANC’s Limpopo provincial congress in Polokwane on Sunday.
The president said he is willing to cooperate with any investigation into the matter and remain focused on the fight against corruption.
"I was not involved in any criminal conduct. I am a farmer I am in the cattle and the game business; I buy and sell animals. The sales sometimes are in cash and some transfers. Some of the people who are offshore customers come through and buy animals and some of them come to hunt on the farm. What has been reported was a clear business transaction of selling animals."
Ramaphosa says the amount of money that was stolen or found on the farm was far less than what is being reported in the media.
"I will have never stolen money from the taxpayers or from anyone. My integrity as a leader will not allow me to do so. I will continue to fight corruption, some of these things are clearly a political agenda. This whole matter will be fully investigated."
Fraser, who is a former head of state security, laid a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa on Wednesday, accusing the president of kidnapping and bribing robbers who stole more than $4 million from one of his properties in Limpopo.
According to Fraser, burglars broke into the farm with the help of a domestic worker in February 2020.
Sunday newspapers revealed that one of the suspects who stole the money was traced to be from Namibia.
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