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A foundation linked to former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has formally approached United States law enforcement agencies, requesting an investigation into whether millions of US dollars stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm may have violated American anti-money laundering and currency-smuggling laws.
The Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane Foundation reportedly submitted a formal complaint on 19 May 2026 to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), and the US Treasury Department.
According to the submission, the foundation believes the matter involves “the presence of millions of undeclared United States dollars on a private farm owned by a sitting head of state”.
The foundation has urged American authorities to open a formal investigation into “the origin, transportation and concealment” of the foreign currency linked to the Phala Phala scandal and determine whether any US financial or criminal laws were breached.
Ramaphosa maintains buffalo sale was legitimate
At the centre of the complaint is foreign currency that President Ramaphosa previously confirmed was stored at his Phala Phala farm in Bela Bela, Limpopo, before it was stolen during a burglary in February 2020.
Ramaphosa has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintains that the money came from a legitimate buffalo sale involving Sudanese businessman Mustafa Mohamed Ibrahim Hazim.
The Presidency has previously argued that the transaction was lawful and that the President did not engage in criminal conduct.
US laws cited in complaint
The Mkhwebane Foundation’s submission reportedly relies on three American legal provisions.
The first is 31 U.S.C. § 5332, a US law dealing with bulk cash smuggling involving amounts above $10 000 intended to evade reporting requirements.
The second is 18 U.S.C. § 1956, which relates to money laundering and the transportation of funds across borders to conceal ownership, source or reporting obligations.
The third is 18 U.S.C. § 1957, which criminalises financial transactions involving allegedly unlawful funds exceeding $10 000.
The foundation reportedly argued that the amount involved in the Phala Phala matter exceeded the legal reporting threshold by a substantial margin.
It referenced Ramaphosa’s own account that approximately $580 000 was stolen during the burglary, while also noting reports that the amount may have been significantly higher.
“The presence of millions of undeclared United States dollars on a private farm owned by a sitting head of state, their suspected cross-border transportation in violation of reporting requirements, and their concealment in a manner consistent with money laundering constitute conduct that directly engages the criminal laws of the United States,” the submission reportedly states.
Jurisdictional hurdles may complicate matter
Despite the foundation’s claims, legal analysts say the complaint could face major jurisdictional challenges.
While the submission argues that the dollars may have entered South Africa without proper declarations, there is currently no publicly available evidence proving that the money originated in the United States, crossed US borders unlawfully or moved through US financial institutions.
Many of the American laws cited generally require investigators to establish a clear US jurisdictional link before formal criminal proceedings can move forward.
The submission reportedly acknowledges that the complaint is based mainly on publicly available information, official reports and sworn testimony already in the public domain.
The foundation further states that it “does not assert personal knowledge of all facts” but believes there are reasonable grounds for American authorities to investigate further.
Foundation wants cooperation from South African authorities
Among the requests made to US authorities, the foundation reportedly called for cooperation with South African institutions including:
- SARS
- The South African Reserve Bank
- The Hawks
- The National Prosecuting Authority
The foundation believes these agencies may hold records relevant to the matter.
Foundation chairperson Shirley Willemse confirmed to Sunday World that the complaint was genuine, although she indicated that the organisation had not yet received formal acknowledgement from American authorities.
The latest development adds further political pressure to the long-running Phala Phala controversy, which continues to dominate national debate around accountability, governance and financial transparency.
The matter recently returned to the spotlight after the Constitutional Court ruled earlier this month that Parliament acted unlawfully in 2022 when it halted an impeachment inquiry linked to the Phala Phala scandal.
