46% Believe Ramaphosa’s Counterstatement on the Corruption Scandal Completely True

Another political scandal involving corruption erupted in June when a former head of South African Security, Arthur Fraser, filed a complaint with police accusing South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa of covering up a robbery. Dubbed “farmgate,” the controversy surrounds an alleged cover-up theft and the aftermath of $4m in cash from the president’s private farm in 2020.

President Ramaphosa admitted that money had been stolen but said it was $580,000, not $4m. According to him, the money stolen on his private farm is earnings from selling buffaloes, not what Fraser says as proceeds from money laundering and corruption.

In the end, Ramaphosa denied the claims in a 138-page submission made to an independent panel investigating the allegations for the South African Parliament. However, the panel described some of his explanations as ‘improbable’ and accused the president of ‘serious misconduct.’

With the panel’s findings now in the hands of Parliament to examine whether or not to launch impeachment proceedings against the president, a survey launched by Real Research, an online survey app, attempted to gather opinions about Ramaphosa’s corruption scandal.

The survey on South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s corruption scandal analysis further highlights the following:

• 66.39% are well aware of Ramaphosa’s corruption scandal
• 38.64% think Ramaphosa should remain in office while waiting for Parliament’s jurisdiction
• The most controversial question raised by the panel was about the buffaloes remaining on the farm (40.31%)

About 6 in 10 Are Aware of Ramaphosa’s Corruption Scandal

In detail, 66.39% are well aware of Ramaphosa’s corruption scandal. 22.87% have heard some particulars, while 10.75% are unaware.

Furthermore, regarding Ramaphosa’s counterstatement of the scandal, 46.25% believe it is completely true. 29.91% say it is partially true, while 11.15% say it is untrue.

Ramaphosa’s explanations of his corruption scandal were found ‘improbable’ by the board. Survey respondents viewed this panel reading as highly justified (48.49%), and some found it somewhat justified (26.52%). In contrast, 12.82% found it unjustified.

Read Also: 52% Find the Corruption Charges Against Peru’s President Completely True

Will South African President Cyril Ramaphosa Get Impeached?

29.87% say it is highly likely that Ramapohosa will face impeachment proceedings. 31.98% say it is somewhat likely, and 26.04% say it is unlikely.

Even with the possibility of him facing impeachment proceedings, 37.31% suggest resigning. However, the majority of survey respondents (38.64%) think he should remain in office while waiting for Parliament’s jurisdiction. 24.05% remain unsure.

South African President’s Corruption Scandal: Guilty or Not?

Among the three questions raised by the panel regarding Ramaphosa’s corruption scandal, the most controversial for the respondents is why the said sold buffaloes remained on the farm (40.31%). Others chose the question, “why did the president have some $580,000 stored inside a sofa?” (28.05%), and the rest chose, “why was the theft not reported to the police two years ago?” (31.64%).

Although most of the respondents remained neutral (29.97%), half of the respondents were divided into believing that President Ramaphosa is guilty of his corruption charges– 28.7% say he is completely guilty, and 22.34% say he is partially guilty.