Africa-Press – South-Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa says none of his family members have benefited from government tenders in recent years, following speculation linking him to alleged tender fraudster, Hangwani Maumela.
Maumela has been identified by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as a key figure in a syndicate accused of looting R2 billion through Tembisa Hospital tenders.
Last week, the SIU raided his lavish three-story mansion in Sandton, seizing luxury sports cars and other items.
During a media briefing in Pretoria on Monday, the Presidency addressed claims suggesting Ramaphosa had ties to the alleged fraudster.
Since Maumela came into the spotlight for his alleged involvement in looting Tembisa Hospital tenders, claims have surfaced suggesting he is the president’s nephew.
Ramaphosa has clarified that he was previously married to Maumela’s aunt, a union that ended in 1989.
Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said that while Ramaphosa noted the allegations against Maumela, he does not consider him a family member.
“Just before the president was appointed the deputy president, he gathered his immediate family and relatives and sternly instructed all of them to either exit or stop any business that they did or intended to do with the government or any state institution. Maumela was not part of that family gathering because he is not part of the president’s immediate family.”
Magwenya said the president has always been concerned about allegations of looting Tembisa Hospital tenders, which is why he signed the SIU proclamation to investigate procurement irregularities at the facility.
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