Like a boxer on the ropes, South Africans have had to absorb blow after blow over months of relentless fuel price increases. 
A Facebook page suggested South Africans shouldn’t expect any relief because the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was profiting from the increases.
“Apparently, the dear father of the nation is benefiting from these [hikes],” the page, DA for President (@DASouthAfrica), claimed on 8 October 2018.
(Note: The Facebook post is no longer available, but a screenshot can be seen here.)
It urged its more than 130,000 followers to share “far and wide” the screenshot it posted to Facebook of a tweet alleging Ramaphosa was “personally benefiting” from the price rises.
This was because “President Ramaphosa’s company Phembani (previously called Shanduka) owns a 26% stake in Engen”, the July 2018 tweet by the handle @Trends_SADC read.
The page is allied to South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance. A DA spokesperson, Refiloe Nt'sekhe, told Africa Check the page was a fan page “we have access to but [it’s] certainly not official”.
Phembani is a private and unlisted black-controlled investment group that focuses on resources such as oil and gas. According to its website, Phembani leads a group that holds a 26% share in Engen Limited, a major energy player in Africa.
Ramaphosa established the Shanduka Group in 2001 as a black-owned investment holding company. He sold his entire stake in the company in 2014, the presidency said in 2017. But he continues to be involved in the non-profit Shanduka Foundation, now the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation.
In December 2015, Phembani bought assets from Shanduka, Phembani’s chief of staff, Charlene Nyembe, told Africa Check.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa does not have any shareholding or any direct or indirect commercial interests in Phembani Group,” Nyembe said. - Lee Mwiti (22/10/2018)
A Facebook page suggested South Africans shouldn’t expect any relief because the country’s President Cyril Ramaphosa was profiting from the increases.
“Apparently, the dear father of the nation is benefiting from these [hikes],” the page, DA for President (@DASouthAfrica), claimed on 8 October 2018.
(Note: The Facebook post is no longer available, but a screenshot can be seen here.)
It urged its more than 130,000 followers to share “far and wide” the screenshot it posted to Facebook of a tweet alleging Ramaphosa was “personally benefiting” from the price rises.
This was because “President Ramaphosa’s company Phembani (previously called Shanduka) owns a 26% stake in Engen”, the July 2018 tweet by the handle @Trends_SADC read.
President Ramaphosa’s company Phembani (previously called Shanduka) owns a 26% stake in Engen.
Ramaphosa is personally benefiting from the fuel price rise.
It’s not a coincidence that fuel is rising.#NewDawn pic.twitter.com/LigjYpQzA4
— Trends SADC ™ (@Trends_SADC) July 5, 2018
The page is allied to South Africa’s largest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance. A DA spokesperson, Refiloe Nt'sekhe, told Africa Check the page was a fan page “we have access to but [it’s] certainly not official”.
Ramaphosa sold Shanduka stake in 2014
Phembani is a private and unlisted black-controlled investment group that focuses on resources such as oil and gas. According to its website, Phembani leads a group that holds a 26% share in Engen Limited, a major energy player in Africa.
Ramaphosa established the Shanduka Group in 2001 as a black-owned investment holding company. He sold his entire stake in the company in 2014, the presidency said in 2017. But he continues to be involved in the non-profit Shanduka Foundation, now the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation.
In December 2015, Phembani bought assets from Shanduka, Phembani’s chief of staff, Charlene Nyembe, told Africa Check.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa does not have any shareholding or any direct or indirect commercial interests in Phembani Group,” Nyembe said. - Lee Mwiti (22/10/2018)
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