South Africa’s serious crimes squad known as the Hawks is probing allegations that a provincial premier made a gift of a herd of cattle in October 2016 to then President Jacob Zuma.
The cattle breeder says Zuma personally signed for the beasts that were delivered to his personal home Nkandla.
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The 24 cows and one bull worth more than 100 000 euros were paid for with public money and were supposed to have gone to emerging farmers in North West province,
Cattle breeder Lucas Msiza says he was instructed by NorthWest provincial premier Supra Mahumapelo to deliver them to Zuma’s home in KwaZulu/Natal.
NorthWest province was torn by violent protests last week calling for the premier to be sacked for corruption
President Cyril Ramaphosa came home early from the Commonwealth summit in London to deal with the crisis.
He says government is looking as serious issues in NorthWest concerning the premier’s position.
The far-left Economic Freedom Fighters have called on the Ombudsman, known in South Africa as the Public Protector, to probe the allegation of the gift cattle and to force Zuma to pay back the money if there is any impropriety.
Since being ousted in mid-February, Zuma has remained in the headlines.
Last week, 24 year old Nonkanyiso Conco said she had given birth to his 23rd child on April 12 which was Zuma’s 76th birthday.
She says he plans to make her his seventh bride.