The Presidency has responded to the viral video of President Cyril Ramaphosa outside the Sandton mansion of alleged tender fraudster Hangwani Morgan Maumela, calling claims of a personal connection “false and misleading.” The clip, which resurfaced on social media, has reignited public debate about political accountability amid South Africa’s ongoing corruption investigations.
The Viral Clip That Sparked Public Speculation
The video, filmed in 2023, shows President Ramaphosa standing outside a luxurious three-storey home on Oxford Avenue in Sandton. He is seen sharing a light-hearted moment with radio host Tbo Touch (Thabo Molefe), Deputy Minister Jomo Sibiya, and another individual.
In the footage, Ramaphosa says, “I’ll give you some love,” while posing for photos, a moment now misrepresented online. The clip went viral after the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) raided the same property on 9 October 2025, linking it to businessman Maumela, a key suspect in the R2 billion Tembisa Hospital tender scandal.
Read more about the province’s accountability drive in our report: Premier Lesufi Suspends Gauteng Health Boss Over Tembisa Hospital Scandal.
Presidency Clarifies the Viral Encounter
During a media briefing in Pretoria on 13 October 2025, Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya addressed the speculation directly. He said the video was taken during one of Ramaphosa’s early-morning fitness walks from his Hyde Park residence, which happens to pass by Maumela’s home.
“Indeed, you see the president in front of [Maumela’s] house, but they were not visiting or coming out of the house,” Magwenya explained. “It just so happened that Tbo Touch stopped his car to greet the president as he was walking past what we now know as Maumela’s house.”
Magwenya emphasised that President Ramaphosa was unaware of the property’s ownership and dismissed claims of regular visits as “a complete lie.” He also addressed persistent rumours of a family connection.
“The president maintains that he has no personal relationship with Mr Maumela. He is not related to him, except that he was once married to Mr Maumela’s aunt,” Magwenya clarified.
SIU Probe: Billions in Questioned Contracts
The SIU investigation into Tembisa Hospital has exposed systemic procurement fraud. According to the SIU’s interim report, the “Maumela syndicate” is linked to:
- 1 728 contract bundles worth R816 million, currently under review.
- 41 suppliers traced to Maumela and associated companies.
Maumela’s firm, Modiba Strategic Solutions, allegedly benefited from R400 million in inflated contracts, including luxury furniture and overpriced goods. The irregularities form part of a broader R2 billion fraud network within the Gauteng Department of Health.
Read more about the R2bn mafia-style looting exposed in the Tembisa Hospital investigation and how it sparked widespread accountability efforts.
Dramatic SIU Raid in Sandton
On 9 October 2025, SIU officers and the Asset Forfeiture Unit raided Maumela’s Sandton mansion. Investigators seized assets worth over R149 million, including:
- Three blue Lamborghinis (Aventador, Huracan, Urus)
- A Ferrari, a McLaren, and two Porsches
- Luxury artworks and properties in Limpopo and Gauteng
SIU Head Advocate Andy Mothibi vowed to continue pursuing hidden assets, saying, “We believe there are more hidden assets.”
The raid forms part of a broader crackdown following the murder of whistleblower Babita Deokaran, who had flagged suspicious payments at Tembisa Hospital before her death in 2021.
Public Reaction and Political Fallout
Reactions to the Presidency’s response have been mixed. Some social media users questioned the timing of the explanation, while others defended Ramaphosa’s transparency. Civil society group OUTA praised the SIU’s persistence, noting that the case “shows how corruption has infected procurement systems meant to serve the public.”
Opposition parties like the Democratic Alliance (DA) have called for the swift prosecution of all implicated individuals. Meanwhile, analysts warn that the viral narrative could distract from the actual corruption investigation.
Focus on Facts, Not Conjecture
The Presidency’s response to the viral video underscores the tension between public perception and verified fact. Officials urged South Africans to rely on credible sources rather than social media speculation.
President Ramaphosa reaffirmed his administration’s anti-corruption stance, stating that none of his family members has benefited from government tenders.
“We must not lose sight of the real issue — cleaning up corruption and restoring integrity in government,” Ramaphosa said.
Catch up on the latest news in Tembisa as the SIU seizes Lamborghinis and assets linked to a Tembisa Hospital tender kingpin.
The Bigger Picture: Accountability and Transparency
This controversy highlights South Africa’s deepening demand for accountable governance. While the viral clip fuelled speculation, verified records and SIU findings point toward a more pressing story, one of grand-scale healthcare corruption and ongoing enforcement.
