President Cyril Ramaphosa is reported to have distanced himself from Hangwani Maumela, a controversial tender tycoon implicated in the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital looting scandal, following a viral video that sparked speculation about their connection.
The footage, which shows the president pausing near Maumela’s opulent Sandton mansion, raised eyebrows and ignited a fervent debate on social media.
According to The Namibian, Ramaphosa’s office officials clarified that the president was merely enjoying a routine walk in the upscale neighbourhood when he paused to engage in a friendly chat with prominent radio host Tbo Touch (Thabo Molefe from MetroFM) and Bishop Noel Jones.
The Namibian reports that his spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, highlighted that Ramaphosa’s Hyde Park residence is nearby, making the route a familiar one for the president.
Importantly, the statement underscored that at the time of the encounter, Ramaphosa was unaware of the mansion’s ownership, firmly asserting that there was no personal or business relationship between the president and Maumela.
In an intriguing twist, the office also revealed that he is distantly related to Maumela through his ex-wife’s family, having been previously married to Maumela’s aunt. However, he has taken steps to sever any state-linked dealings within his immediate family since assuming the role of deputy president in 2014, insisting that Maumela was not included in those restrictions.
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This clarification comes in the wake of a significant raid conducted by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) on Maumela’s Sandhurst estate on October 9. During this operation, authorities seized three luxury blue Lamborghinis, along with a trove of designer goods and artwork, valued at a staggering R133.5 million.
The raid is part of a broader investigation into Maumela’s operations, which, according to SIU findings, allegedly involved a syndicate that funnelled an astonishing R820 million through 41 shell companies created to facilitate bogus tenders and inflated invoices over a two-year tenure one of the major groups exploiting the Gauteng hospital system.
The scandal surrounding Tembisa Hospital has captured public interest due to the sheer magnitude of the alleged misappropriation of funds intended for medical services, raising serious concerns about corruption and accountability within the government’s tender processes.
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Picture: Zamo s Mthethwa / Facebook
