BREAKING NEWS: Nqakula Predicts Ramaphosa Arrest “Within Months” Over Phala Phala, Says NPA Evidence “Overwhelming”

Johannesburg, 10 June 2026 – Former Minister of Safety and Security Charles Nqakula has predicted that President Cyril Ramaphosa will be arrested within months over the Phala Phala scandal, claiming the National Prosecuting Authority has “overwhelming” evidence it cannot ignore indefinitely.

Speaking on the African Renaissance Network in an interview with Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, the veteran ANC stalwart and former cabinet minister said an arrest is “not a question of if, it’s a question of when.”

“The arrest of Cyril Ramaphosa is not a question of if, it's a question of when. And that when is coming very, very soon,” Nqakula said.

The Phala Phala matter relates to a 2020 theft at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo game farm, where a large sum of undisclosed foreign currency allegedly hidden in a sofa was stolen. The case has been the subject of parliamentary inquiries, investigations by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, and public debate since 2022.

Nqakula listed several allegations he believes constitute criminal conduct: undeclared foreign currency not reported to the South African Reserve Bank or SARS, kidnappings and cross-border movement of suspects to Namibia, and police allegedly being used to investigate a robbery that was not formally reported.

“You've got money hidden in a sofa; you've got it not declared to the South African Reserve Bank; you've got it not declared to SARS; you've got people being kidnapped and taken across the border to Namibia; you've got the police being used illegally to investigate a robbery that was never reported,” Nqakula told Ndlozi. “The list of crimes is endless. It's endless! And you think the NPA can just sit on this forever? They can't.”

When pressed on the delay in prosecution, Nqakula argued investigations involving a sitting president take time to ensure the case is “airtight.”

“No, they're not sitting on it. They are investigating. A proper investigation takes time, especially when you're dealing with a sitting president. You have to make sure your case is airtight. Because if you move against a president and you miss, you're finished. Your career is over. So they are dotting the i's and crossing the t's.”

Context & response

President Ramaphosa has consistently denied criminal wrongdoing related to Phala Phala. He reported the theft to police in 2022 and has said the money was proceeds from the sale of game, declared to the South African Reserve Bank. No charges have been filed against him to date.

The NPA has not confirmed any imminent arrest or prosecution. Previous probes, including a Section 89 Parliamentary Panel report in 2022, found Ramaphosa may have a case to answer on conduct grounds, but the National Assembly voted against further impeachment proceedings. IPID and other law enforcement agencies have said investigations continue.

SAPS, IPID, and the Presidency had not issued new statements on Nqakula’s comments at the time of publication.