By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
Several members of civil society and political analysts have expressed their grievances regarding the Phala Phala scandal in which two South African Police Service (SAPS) officers took the fall for the cover up that ensued while President Cyril Ramaphosa is left without any impunity.
The report made by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has revealed that the theft of about $580,000 from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in 2020 was declassified.
The ActionSA party alongside the African Transformation Movement had secured the release through a Promotion to Access to Information Act even though suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said it would remain classified.
The money which was sitting at roughly R8m at the time is what was allegedly stolen during the break in at the farm was hidden underneath a sofa. There is an IPID report that recommended disciplinary action take place against Major-General Wally Rhoode who serves at the head of the Presidential Protection Unit and Constable HH Rekhoto, who serves as a legal officer within the same unit.
They have been accused of concealing the theft in question as well conducting an unauthorized investigation using state resources, falsifying official documents and for tarnishing the credibility of the SAPS.
Forum for South Africa (FOSA) leader Tebogo Mashilompane has stated that Ramaphosa’s decision to report the theft of money himself was questionable and raised some very critical concerns and has even accused Ramaphosa of concealing the presence of the money on the farm.
“The money wasn’t even supposed to be there, Ramaphosa knew that if he reported the matter to the police, they would have to investigate,” said Mashilompane. “Unfortunately the information leaked and the public became aware of the money.
It was wrong and should be condemned…even as president, he is not above the constitution, which is clear that crime must be reported directly to the authorities” he added.
Ramaphosa notified Rhoode that the money had gone missing which prompted Rhoode to proceed with his own investigation to identify suspects and to recover the money stolen.
His methods in his investigation included kidnapping potential suspects and interrogating them on the farm as he bound their hands with cable ties and kept the information concealed from his superiors.
“Rhoode name dropped the the President’s name every time he conducted his unauthorised investigations into Phala Phale farm theft” said Rhoode’s direct superior at the time, national commissioner General KJ Sithole, who was not informed of these operations.