My family knows not to do business with the government – Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has distanced himself from connections to Tembisa tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela, saying that his real family knows not to do business with the state.

Maumela has been identified by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) as a key figure in a syndicate accused of looting R2 billion through inflated Tembisa Hospital tenders.

Allegations arose after it was uncovered that Maumela is the nephew of Ramaphosa’s first wife.

In a press conference on 13 October, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya rejected claims that Ramaphosa has ever had any relationship with Maumela. Magwenya said that he does not consider him a family member.

“The president maintains that he has no personal relationship with Maumela. He is not related to him, except that he was married to his aunt many years ago,” said Magwenya.

The spokesperson added that the President told his immediate family to exit business with the state before he came into office.

“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.”

“It is for this reason that we’re going to consistently reject the narrative that seeks to link his existence and whatever else he is involved in to the President,” added Magwenya.

The spokesperson said that it was Ramaphosa who signed the SIU proclamation that revealed the extent of corruption and criminality at and around Tembisa Hospital.

In this context, he has called on all law enforcement agencies to accelerate their criminal investigations into the matter, urging the expedited arrest of all those involved, without fear or favour, and irrespective of their identity or any alleged affiliations.

The viral video

This comes after a video resurfaced showing the President with DJ Tbo Touch outside Maumela’s house following the SIU’s raid on his lavish three-story mansion in Sandton, seizing luxury sports cars and other items.

The video shows Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya, who at the time the video was recorded on the 29th of September 2023, was the Special Advisor to the President, President Ramaphosa in the middle with famous radio DJ, Tbo Touch, and Bishop Noel Jones. 

Magwenya said that the President was on one of his regular fitness walks, which he often takes with staff and ministers.

They stopped briefly when Tbo Touch and Bishop Jones greeted him, took pictures, and recorded a video.

The President did not visit the house, nor did he know whose house it was at the time. The street is near his Hyde Park residence and is one he frequently uses.

He said that claims that he visits Maumela’s house weekly are false; only his family, security detail, Union Buildings staff, and select ANC officials see him regularly.

DJ Tbo Touch confirmed the video was his post and that the house was under construction at the time. The President’s Office rejects suggestions that he was visiting Maumela’s house.

“We note the ongoing desperate media attempts to link the President to this gentleman,” said Magwenya.

“The President had no knowledge of whose house it was. Therefore, we reject the suggestion that the President may have been visiting Maumela’s house as being very far from the truth.”