The Sunday Times has reported that deceased Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi gave Jacob Zuma over R400 million for safekeeping.

The report alleges that the Libyan dictator gave an estimated $30 million in cash to Zuma to keep in his underground bunker at Nkandla. While Gaddafi had agreed to a peace deal of sorts in 2011, he was captured and killed later that year.

Zuma held onto the money and the report suggests it was the reason why former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela was not allowed access to the bunker during her investigation of Nkandla in 2013.

Since, Zuma moved the millions to neighbouring Swaziland under the care of King Mswati. Allegedly, the King told president Cyril Ramaphosa last week that he has the missing millions.

The speculation is linked to a Sunday Independent report in 2014, which revealed that nearly R2 trillion in Libyan assets had been ferried to Pretoria for safekeeping. Given the chaos that followed in Libya during Gaddafi’s removal, it has been difficult to track the states assets.

However, Zuma was close to Gaddafi and the report revealed he convinced the north African leader to step down in 2011.

At the time of writing, there has been no official statement from Ramaphosa, Zuma or King Mswati.

SA Breaking News