Ramaphosa paying back money stolen from Phala Phala to Sudanese businessman, Mustafa

JOHANNESBURG - President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is in the process of paying back the stolen Phala Phala money to Sudanese businessman, Hazim Mustafa. 

In December 2019, Mustafa paid US$580,000 in cash to the game farm for the purchase of 20 buffalo. 

However, a couple of months later, the money was stolen from the farm and Mustafa never received the animals. 

Mustafa said that he wanted his money back since he never got the buffalo. 

President Ramaphosa said that the farm would be paying him back. 

"He has a clear claim and it’s a claim that needs to be met. And dealing with it, means paying back the money," the president said. 

Ramaphosa has denied that he was close to resigning over the Phala Phala scandal. 

The case of the three burglars who allegedly stole the money from the farm is still ongoing in the Bela Bela Magistrates Court.