President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied any link to allegations raised in a leaked IPID report, insisting the claims do not implicate him personally.
Image: GCIS
President Cyril Ramaphosa says an explosive Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report alleging a cover-up in relation to the robbery at his Phala Phala farm has nothing to do with him.
Ramaphosa said this on the sidelines of his visit at Kusile Power Station on Friday.
Ramaphosa visited the plant to assess the progress Eskom has made in restoring energy security following years of uncertainty that resulted in heavy loadshedding.
Asked about the matter, Ramaphosa said, “The IPID report is what you would have read, I had nothing to do with it.”
“So that is a process. I’ve always said processes must play themselves out and all these matters are being handled by the right institutions and we must allow those institutions to handle those matters.”
The report, which relates to the theft of about $580,000 from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in 2020, was declassified this week.
This comes after the IPID has recommended disciplinary action be taken against two SAPS officers, including a senior protector of Ramaphosa, over their alleged role in covering up the 2020 Phala Phala farm theft.
Those implicated are Major General Wally Rhoode, head of the Presidential Protection Service, and Constable HH Rekhoto.
Rekhoto is attached to the Presidential Protection Services Unit at Head Office, Pretoria.
The findings follow the declassification of IPID’s report into the conduct of Presidential Protection Service Unit members after a PAIA application by ActionSA and the African Transformation Movement (ATM).
Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu had previously indicated the report would remain classified.
IPID said its investigation identified Rhoode and Rekhoto as “the individuals who were mostly involved in the alleged cover-up of the theft from the President’s farm”.
“Both members were approached and were given the opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them,” the report said.
Rekhoto provided a sworn affidavit in January 2023.
Rhoode, however, failed to respond to IPID’s questions, despite indicating he would do so after the State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“IPID investigation, therefore, necessitated the analysis of the available evidence gathered,” the report said.
According to IPID, Ramaphosa informed Rhoode in 2020 of a break-in at his Phala Phala farm involving stolen cash from animal sales.
Rhoode reportedly undertook to report the matter but failed to do so in line with Section 13(2) of the SAPS Act, which requires officers to inform their commanding officer of a crime.
Instead, he said he reported the matter to a subordinate rather than the national police commissioner Khehla Sitole, who only learned of the incident through media reports after his retirement.
“Major General WP Rhoode failed to register or ensure that a case docket of housebreaking and theft was registered,” the report found.
IPID further concluded that Rhoode carried out an “unlawful instruction” by conducting investigations outside his mandate and without opening a formal case.
The report details how Rhoode allegedly led an unofficial operation to track down suspects and recover the stolen money.
It found that suspects were interviewed at the farm, and that individuals not formally authorised appeared to be involved.
“The only inference one can draw is that [they were] part of the team … to trace and track the suspects … thus insinuating unlawful apprehension and interrogations,” IPID said.
IPID also found that Rekhoto travelled to Cape Town in March 2020 under false pretences.
Official records stated he was attending meetings with the Presidency. However, the report found he was in fact conducting surveillance on suspects linked to the Phala Phala theft.
“Constable HH Rekhoto misrepresented himself by saying he was going to attend meetings,” the report said.
He was unable to provide proof of such meetings, including minutes or attendance registers, and instead submitted only draft investigation notes.
The report said both officers falsified travel documentation and misused state resources.
IPID found that Rhoode abused SAPS resources by authorising unnecessary travel and duplicating roles, resulting in “fruitless and wasteful expenditure”.
It also raised concerns about trips to Upington and Namibia involving presidential envoy Dr Bejani Chauke, who is not classified as a VIP under SAPS policy.
“Major General WP Rhoode namedrop[ped] the President’s name every time he conducted his unauthorised investigations,” the report stated.
Meanwhile, the IPID recommended disciplinary action under SAPS regulations.
These include failing to comply with legal obligations, conducting investigations outside official duties, mismanaging state funds, falsifying records, and acting in an “improper, disgraceful, and unacceptable manner.”
The report said that the conduct of both officers “detrimentally affects the image of the Service” and warrants expedited disciplinary proceedings.
Meanwhile, civil society groups and anti-corruption organizations are angry about an IPID report that suggests Ramaphosa created a gap in investigations outside government departments.
The report has also led some political parties to call for action to be taken against Ramaphosa for his role in the issue.
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