Chivayo Denies He Is Wanted By South African Police
Wicknell Chivayo has dismissed claims that he is the “person of interest” alluded to by South African officials following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s recent visit to Zimbabwe.
Black News 
In a lengthy statement posted online, Chivayo said the suggestion was “manufactured controversy” by opposition critics and “social media prosecutors”. He insisted he is not wanted by police in any country.
“I am just an interesting person… not a person of interest,” he wrote. “I am a well-established and successful businessman of unquestionable integrity, and I am not wanted in connection with any criminal offence, whether in Zimbabwe, South Africa or any other jurisdiction whatsoever.”
Chivayo said Interpol had confirmed that position “on several occasions”. He added that he was posting from Cape Town, where he is on holiday with his family, and that he travels “openly and freely through normal immigration channels without the slightest difficulty”.
“If I were indeed some person of interest as social media prosecutors allege, I would have obviously been detained, questioned, indicted or subjected to some form of official process. None of that has happened,” he said.
On Wednesday, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said last week that the president had travelled to Zimbabwe for a one-on-one meeting with President Emmerson Mnangagwa at Mnangagwa’s invitation. Magwenya said Ramaphosa did not know who else would be at the meeting and “had no sense of who he was” in apparent reference to Chivayo.
On Thursday, the Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, also said any other guests were Mnangagwa’s.
Chivayo said it was “astonishing” that people believed businessmen at the visit “simply emerged from nowhere”, arguing that VVIP security protocols require “extensive vetting” before anyone gets close to a sitting head of state.
“I was deeply honoured and privileged to have been part of the delegation that welcomed President Ramaphosa,” he said.
He urged “South African Twitter detectives” to focus on xenophobic attacks, armed robberies and kidnappings, saying rich people in South Africa “have to move around with 15 heavily armed and special forces trained bodyguards in fear for our lives”.
Chivayo said there was “apparent confusion” between him and his younger brother, Joachim Chivayo, also known as G6.
Joachim was declared wanted by South Africa’s Hawks in February 2026 in connection with an illegal gold dealing case worth about R15 million. He was arrested in late 2024 after being found with six bars of unwrought gold, but later skipped bail and fled to Zimbabwe.
“Joacham is my little brother, whom I love and hold with the highest respect,” Wicknell said. “However, I cannot meaningfully comment on matters relating to his private affairs or any allegations that may have circulated online regarding his business dealings in South Africa.”
He added that “any accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty otherwise by a competent court of law and not on social media”.
South African authorities have not named Chivayo by name in any official statement related to Ramaphosa’s Zimbabwe visit.
