Forensic report clears ANC’s Gwen Ramokgopa of alleged links to Matlala

MALICIOUS CAMPAIGN

- THABO MAKWAKWA [e-mail]

AFRICAN National Congress (ANC) Treasurer-General Dr Gwen Ramokgopa has denied claims linking her to alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, dismissing the accusations as part of a malicious campaign aimed at destabilising the party.

The allegations surfaced recently on social media and circulated widely among various news outlets, insinuating a close relationship between Ramokgopa and Matlala.

Anonymous sources claimed that Ramokgopa and Matlala referred to each other as "Ngwana ko hae" - or sibling - and suggested that intercepted text messages showed she had benefited from Matlala's illicit funds.

Additional claims stated that Matlala allegedly delivered cash drop-offs totalling R2 million to the home of marketing consultant Groovin Nchabeleng on Ramokgopa's behalf.

In a move to clear her name, the Progressive Business Forum (PBF), which Ramokgopa chairs, launched a forensic investigation into the allegations.

PBF had enlisted the services of Tayfin Forensic Auditors to trace the origins of the disinformation.

The auditors released the findings of their investigations on Friday last week, confirming that the narratives on social media are faceless, false, and malicious against the PBF, its Chairperson Ramokgopa, and the associates.