The search for Muammar Gaddafi’s missing billions has shifted to former South African President Jacob Zuma. Libyan authorities have reportedly requested the assistance of President Cyril Ramaphosa to recover money that they believe was transferred to South Africa and kept in Zuma’s custody before Gaddafi’s death.
Zuma, who is currently embroiled in litigation on corruption charges that arose during his presidential tenure, has been accused of being the custodian of $30m of Gaddafi’s money at his country home in Nkandla, KwaZulu Natal in a report by South Africa’s ‘Sunday Times’ publication.
The Times’ also alleged that the money has now been moved from Zuma’s bunker, and handed over to the nearby Kingdom of Eswatini (formerly Swaziland).
Before Gaddafi’s death, Zuma had disagreed with international military intervention in Libya, and had reportedly offered the Libyan leader asylum in South Africa. It is believed that “Gaddafi refused to go. He said he will die in his own country. He gave them money and said, ‘Please use this if I’m captured and taken to the International Criminal Court, find a good lawyer for me’. He said, ‘If I’m killed, please give it to my family’,” a source told the South African newspaper.
South Africa’s Department of International Relations has confirmed that they have been asked to clarify these reports, and are looking into the matter of Gaddafi’s so-called millions. President Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Khuselo Diko said if there was any evidence of wrongdoing, law enforcement agencies would play their part without fear or favour.
“Sigh! I owe millions in legal fees… I’ve asked you to assist with that one title deed in order for me to sell that house. I now hear that I have been keeping money belonging to my late brother Gaddafi. Where’s this money because His Majesty knows nothing about it?” Zuma tweeted in response to the fresh allegations being stacked up against him.
Groups including Libya’s military factions, arms dealers and international brokers have been searching for Gaddafi’s alleged missing millions since his death in 2011. It has been widely reported that he had sold a fifth of the nation’s gold reserves and combined the proceeds with a portion of Libya’s oil revenue to amass an estimated USD$200 billion, and this money has never been recovered.