Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane has written to President Cyril Ramaphosa seeking clarity on his relationship with Wicknell Chivayo, after footage emerged appearing to show the two in a private, informal engagement.
In a letter dated 22 May 2026, Maimane said the video had “understandably raised serious questions in the public discourse,” particularly given prior statements attributed to the President in which he indicated he did not know Chivayo.
“The emergence of this footage has therefore created an apparent inconsistency that warrants clear and direct explanation to the South African public,” Maimane wrote.
The video, which has been widely circulated, appears to show Ramaphosa in a relaxed setting with Chivayo, who is a person of interest in South Africa.
Maimane said the clip has been “widely interpreted by observers as being used by Mr Chivayo in a manner that could be construed as leveraging proximity to the highest office in the land in relation to his own legal and business controversies.”
Chivayo is linked to several matters reportedly under investigation or before the courts in South Africa, including tenders and procurement deals.
Maimane warned that such perceptions “have the potential to erode confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the Presidency,” adding that clarity from Ramaphosa’s office was essential given the gravity of the implications.
In the letter, the BOSA leader posed five questions to President Ramaphosa.
He asked what the nature and context of the interaction with Chivayo was, as depicted in the circulated footage. Maimane also sought to establish when the meeting took place and whether it constituted an official engagement, a private meeting, or a social encounter.
The letter further questioned whether there were any official records, declarations, or disclosures relating to the interaction.
Maimane pressed the President to explain how the engagement aligns with prior public statements made by the Presidency regarding his knowledge or relationship with Chivayo.
Finally, he asked what steps, if any, would be taken to ensure public confidence is maintained in relation to interactions between the Presidency and individuals with active or past legal controversies.
“South Africans expect and deserve clarity, particularly where questions arise that may affect confidence in the highest office of the land,” Maimane wrote, adding that he looked forward to an “urgent response.”
Maimane said he wrote in his capacity as a public representative “in the interests of transparency and public trust in the Office of the President.”
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