A Burglary Scandal Puts South Africa’s Anti-Corruption President in the Hot Seat

Allegations that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa concealed and stole millions of dollars at his Limpopo wildlife farm risk harming his reelection chances, impeding economic reforms and potentially triggering unrest across the country. On June 8, Ramaphosa said he would voluntarily appear before the governing African National Congress’ (ANC) party’s integrity commission to answer questions involving accusations that he illegally took matters into his own hands after $4 million was mysteriously stolen from his Phala Phala Farm in 2020. On June 1, the country’s former spy chief Arthur Fraser filed a criminal complaint accusing Ramaphosa of concealing the alleged theft, and subsequently kidnapping and illegally interrogating the suspects. In the 12-page sworn statement, Fraser -- who served as the head of the South African State Security Agency from 2016 to 2018 during the administration of former President Jacob Zuma -- also alleged the assailants were paid to keep quiet, implying...