Arthur Fraser Claims He Was Offered R50 Million To Drop Phala Phala Case

Former spy boss Arthur Fraser has made explosive new claims about the Phala Phala scandal, alleging that he was pressured to resign and offered millions of rand to withdraw his criminal complaint against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Speaking on the Unpopular Opinion podcast hosted by Mzilikazi wa Africa, Fraser alleged that Ramaphosa described him as a “liability” to the ANC and government amid growing political fallout linked to the Phala Phala matter.

Arthur Fraser Alleges Ramaphosa Pressured Him To Resign

Fraser claimed Ramaphosa personally asked him to resign, allegedly citing pressure from political opponents, including the Democratic Alliance.

According to Fraser, the President also accused him of supporting Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma during the ANC’s 2017 Nasrec elective conference campaign.

“So he says, you know, I’m under pressure, I need you to resign, and that’s what I’m here to ask you to do’. He then states to me that, ‘You know, I’m getting pressure from the DA. I said I understand that political noise, Mr President, and you are a liability to the ANC Commissioner,” Fraser stated on the podcast.

Arthur Fraser Claims He Was Offered R50 Million To Withdraw Phala Phala Case

Fraser further alleged that he was offered more than R50 million to make the Phala Phala case disappear shortly after opening a criminal case at the Rosebank Police Station in 2022.

He claimed the alleged offer came 14 days after reporting the theft of more than $4 million from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.

Fraser alleged that slain businessman Mark Lifman was involved in the offer and claimed he was told he could insert any amount he wanted.

“I was offered R50 million plus to make this matter go away and collapse this case. I was also told that I could choose to withdraw the case. It was R50 million, and there was additional money, and that happened on the 15th of June 2022. In fact, it was a blank script where I was told, ‘You must put any number’,” he stated.

Phala Phala Allegations Intensify After Constitutional Court Ruling

Fraser also alleged that he was promised senior government positions in exchange for withdrawing the matter.

“Apart from the R50 million, he indicated that I could choose any department I wanted in government, and they’ll give it to me,” Fraser claimed.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Woman Killed In Mitchells Plain Drive-By Shooting As Gang Violence Fears Grow

The former intelligence boss further alleged that Namibian citizens linked to the theft were traced and tracked during COVID-19 border restrictions with the knowledge of the President.

His latest allegations come days after the Constitutional Court of South Africa ruled that Parliament acted unlawfully in halting impeachment proceedings linked to the Phala Phala scandal.

Attempts to obtain comment from presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya and ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri were unsuccessful.

Following the ruling, Ramaphosa’s office said the President remains committed to the Constitution, judicial independence and due process.

“President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favour or prejudice,” the Presidency said.