Zungula calls out the ANC for covering up president Rhoode’s clearance in the Phala Phala saga

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has raised its voice against the recent decision by the South African Police Service (SAPS) to exonerate Major-General Wally Rhoode, the head of the Presidential Protection Services, regarding his involvement in the controversial Phala Phala farm investigation.

This move has ignited a fierce debate concerning governmental accountability, transparency, and the perceived intertwining of state institutions with partisan agendas.

Parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula did not mince his words, describing the clearance as a “blatant attempt by the ANC to destroy state institutions to protect their compromised deployees and officials.”

Rhoode's clearance has been confirmed following a disciplinary hearing regarding findings from Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka two years ago.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia publicly confirmed that Rhoode was found "not guilty of any misconduct related to the findings of the Public Protector in that he conducted an illegal investigation in relation to the robbery at the Phala Phala farm of the President, Mr M C Ramaphosa, in Limpopo in February 2020".

Cachalia has reaffirmed Rhoode's active status within the SAPS, highlighting his important role as the head of the Presidential Protection Service. 

However, Zungula said that the Phala Phala matter would still be revisited.

“A police officer who conducted an illegal investigation and used state resources to unlawfully investigate theft of undeclared dollars in the President’s farm has been cleared of any wrongdoing,” Zungula said.

Zungula directly accusing the ruling party of a systematic  “cover-up”.

“It is clear, the ANC will stop at nothing to cover up their wrongdoing,” saying there is a deep distrust of the ANC's motives and its perceived interference in state institutions.

ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri did not respond to questions sent on Sunday.

Gcaleka's report reveals that President Ramaphosa faced allegations of misconduct, but it turns out that Rhoode was not authorised to probe the burglary at the President's farm.

The incident, which involved a substantial sum of undeclared foreign currency, was reportedly brought to Rhoode's attention by Ramaphosa, leading to an alleged "off-the-books" investigation. 

Gcaleka has ruled that Rhoode acted improperly and without proper authority in his investigation. His assertion that conducting a threat analysis has been explicitly dismissed. 

As part of her remedial action, Gcaleka had instructed then police minister Bheki Cele to acknowledge findings of maladministration and improper conduct against the SAPS, particularly concerning the alleged improper conduct of police officers within the Presidential Protection Services.

Cachalia’s response to Zungula’s parliamentary enquiry confirmed that Rhoode was indeed subjected to a formal disciplinary trial, conducted in strict accordance with the SAPS Disciplinary Regulations, 2016. 

Cachalia refrained from addressing Zungula's concerns about the impact of the censure of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report on public confidence in policing.

In a separate parliamentary response to ActionSA MP Dereleen James, Cachalia also addressed the classification of documents related to the Phala Phala matter. 

He stated that the IPID report was classified "Top Secret" in line with the Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS) approved by Cabinet. Cachalia justified this classification by arguing that the report had the potential to disrupt operational planning and significantly damage relations between various institutions, thus necessitating its stringent classification. 

"The report will remain classified until these elements are no longer in existence,” Cachalia said.

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