Sky News has been told by a businessman that he paid $580,000 to purchase 20 buffalo from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in December 2019. However, he did not initially know the identity of the animals.

Ramaphosa is under pressure to resign due to the Farmgate scandal. This revolves around allegations that he hid millions of dollars in couches at his private game farm , and then covered up the theft.

Hazim Mustafa claimed he was in Limpopo to celebrate Christmas and his wife’s birth, but didn’t know the owner of the buffalo or farm.

“I didn’t know it belonged to President. “I dealt with a broker, the one who worked on Phala Phala Farm,” stated the Dubai-based businessman. He is also the owner of a Sudanese football team.

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In a statement to a panel looking into whether the president violated his oath Mr Ramaphosa identified Mr Mustafa in a statement as the source of more that half a million dollars of cash stolen from his farm’s couch pillows in February 2020.

Two former judges and a lawyer acted as a panel, but only analysed documents submitted by members the National Assembly and the response of the President.

Evidence includes an acknowledgment of receipt of $580,000, written by Mr Ndlovu, a Phala Phala employee.

The report asks why the buffalo remained on the farm after being sold three years ago.

“They were supposed to prepare animals for export when we made the deal. “Then COVID-19 lockdown occurred and there was delay after delay, after delay after delay,” stated Mr Mustafa, who is also well-known for his business connections to Omar al Bashir, the deposed dictator of Sudan.

He said, “It took too much time, so I didn’t get my money back, but there is an agreement that I will be reimbursed.”

ANC will vote against the parliamentary report

Arthur Fraser, a former spy chief and political rival to the president, filed corruption and money laundering accusations against him. Fraser claimed that he had stolen $4m from the farm.

On Monday, the African National Congress, president’s party, stated that it would vote against any attempts to impeach him.

Ramaphosa also filed legal action against the parliamentary report, which suggested that he had broken anti-corruption laws. Legal papers called it “seriously flawed and irrational.”

The report last week concluded that he could have violated his oath through private business.

The president submitted a submission to inquiry and denied any wrongdoing. He stated that $580,000 was stolen, not $4m.

Political turmoil erupted as the President was forced to address the allegations publicly.

Sky News was told by a senior minister that he was ready to resign but was persuaded by his allies to remain put for the moment.

The ANC will vote on 16 December for its new leadership, and the National Executive Committee. The nominations are currently in front of President Ramaphosa, which were submitted before the panel’s findings were published.

In the wake of the initial findings of the independent investigation, the party held several closed-door meetings.

Following an ANC meeting, President Ramaphosa said to journalists: “It’s up to the National Executive Committee which I am accountable for, to make whatever decision.”

On Tuesday, the Parliament will meet to vote on whether or not to initiate impeachment proceedings.

Paul Mashatile, ANC treasurer general, stated that his party would not support the report’s call for impeachment proceedings.

“We will vote against this report because, as you know, it will set other processes into motion like impeachment and we aren’t supporting the process that will result in the impeachment or resignation of the president,” stated Mr Mashatile.

There are many questions about the money used to buy the buffalo deal.

Sky News asked Mr Mustafa about how he managed to bring more than half a billion dollars of cash into South Africa. He answered straight away: “Through the Airport.”

He said that he had declared it in Johannesburg, O.R Tambo Airport. However, he refused to accept the declaration forms as evidence and cited the ongoing parliamentary process.

The South African Reserve Bank, which regulates foreign currency regulation and exchange, said it is currently working alongside law enforcement agencies to investigate the Phala Phala burglary.

For a businessman like myself, $580,000 is nothing. “I don’t know the problem,” stated Mr Mustafa.