Video of Cyril outside Maumela's mansion 'coincidental' - Presidency

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has denied knowing one of the alleged syndicates linked to the   looting of over R2 billion from Tembisa Hospital, saying the video showing him next to Hangwani Maumela’s mansion, was coincidental.

He also denied ever meeting Maumela, saying he was once married to his aunt.

Maumela's name came under the spotlight after a recent Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report found that Maumela led one of three major syndicates that diverted public funds meant for healthcare services through a complex web of fraudulent tenders, inflated prices and non-existent deliveries. 

The SIU's investigation found that Maumela allegedly used a network of 41 companies to siphon off R820 million from Tembisa Hospital over two years. The broader investigation uncovered that three syndicates were responsible for looting over R2 billion.

Last week, the SIU raided Maumela's home as part of an operation to seize assets linked to the alleged Tembisa Hospital looting. A day after the raid, a video of Ramaphosa outside Maumela’s house was circulated on social media. 

Among the items confiscated during the raid were three Lamborghinis, designer furniture, expensive artwork, and other property. The total value of assets preserved was R133,5 million, with a total of R900 million worth of assets targeted.

Ramaphosa spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the video shows Ramaphosa in the middle of radio DJ Tbo Touch (Thabo Molefe) and Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Jomo Sibiya, who at the time was the Special Advisor to the President. 

He said Ramaphosa did not know that the house belonged to Maumela.

“As it is well known, President Ramaphosa loves to walk whenever he finds time. He had invited Mr. Sibiya for a walk. He regularly invites his staff, even Ministers, on walks. They passed a house which is now well known as Maumela's house.

"While passing this house, they were stopped by Tbo Touch, who was in the company of his mentor and friend, Bishop Noel Jones. They took pictures, and there's even a video. During the walk, the president stopped and spoke to several people along the way, including taking pictures with them,” said Magwenya.

“The president regularly walks and drives past the house because this is the street that is not too far from his house in Hyde Park. It's a street that he would use when driving to and from Sandton. I also use the same street quite often when going to the President's house, coming from the Sandton direction."

Magwenya said it was wrong to use the video 'as evidence of the President's relationship with Maumela, adding that Ramaphosa maintains that he has no personal relationship with Maumela.

“He is not related to him except that he was once married to Maumela's aunt.”

Magwenya also said that before Ramaphosa was appointed as Deputy President (in 2014), he gathered his immediate family and sternly instructed them to either exit or stop any business that they did or intended to do with the government and state institutions.

He said Maumela was not part of that meeting because he is not an immediate family member.

The entrance to Maumela's luxury house in Sandhurst in Sandton, was on Sunday guarded by personnel wearing black shirts and jeans, who asked anyone getting too close to the entrance to leave 'or be assisted to leave'.

They also insisted that no pictures be taken of the property.

An official said that Maumela has not been at home since the SIU raid on Thursday.

The property, reportedly purchased by his family trust, was created by combining two plots of land with a total value of R86 million.

Public records show that the MHR Maumela Family Trust purchased two adjacent stands in Sandhurst, one for R70 million in 2021 and another for R16 million in 2022.

It is described as a three-story mansion with features such as multiple wings, infinity pools and manicured gardens. 

Other amenities include a car wash and a hair salon.

The mansion is secured with a perimeter wall that deters unwanted access and is further enhanced with CCTV cameras and LED lights. 

Cape Times