By Marcus Moloko
President Cyril Ramaphosa has dispelled speculation surrounding his alleged relationship with businessman and corruption-accused Hangwani Maumela, a man at the centre of a high-profile probe linked to the looting of Tembisa Hospital.
Addressing the National Council of Provinces on Tuesday, Ramaphosa said he does not consider Maumela a relative, despite a familial connection through a previous marriage.
“I walk past that house when I go on my [morning] walks. In 2024, I am walking on that same street. A person comes out this house and greets me. As I often meet people, I ask who are you and he says he is Hangwani Maumela. That’s how he introduces himself to me. I say you are the Maumela who is putting my name into disrepute. As I have encountered this person, I then walk away.”
The controversy emerged after video footage surfaced showing Ramaphosa outside Maumela’s multimillion rand Sandhurst home.
Ramaphosa maintains he has no extensive interaction with him.
The Presidency has stated that Ramaphosa’s presence near Maumela’s residence was purely coincidental, attributing it to the president’s routine walks in the area.
Maumela is implicated in the siphoning of billions of rands from Tembisa Hospital. The Special Investigation Unit (SIU) recently raided his Sandton property, seizing luxury assets including high-end vehicles.
This has intensified scrutiny of political figures and their proximity to individuals accused of state capture and procurement fraud.
Ramaphosa’s denial comes as the ANC faces mounting pressure to distance itself from corruption-linked individuals in an effort to restore public trust.
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