The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has indicated that it will pursue the Phala Phala farm scandal until President Cyril Ramaphosa is held accountable.
Image: IOL graphics
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has indicated that it may pursue legal action and other avenues to challenge a decision to reject the party’s request for a Section 98 impeachment inquiry against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This is after the ATM wrote a letter to Parliament's speaker, Thoko Didiza, requesting Section 89 impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa following a report from the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) on the Phala Phala farm scandal.
The party argues that Ramaphosa has a case to answer regarding the scandal, citing a systemic abuse of state power to conceal a crime.
The report found that police senior officials, including the head of the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU), Major Rhoode Wally, intentionally concealed the 2020 burglary and theft of foreign currency, which the ATM argues constitutes a violation of the oath of office and potential criminality.
The ATM also argued that state resources were misused for “off-the-books” operations to recover stolen dollars, rather than reporting the crime through formal, legal police channels.
The Phala Phala scandal involves the 2020 theft of an estimated $580,000 in cash (initially alleged to be $4 million), which was hidden in furniture at Ramaphosa’s private game in Limpopo.
The incident remained secret until June 2022, when former spy chief Arthur Fraser filed a criminal complaint, accusing Ramaphosa of money laundering, kidnapping, and bribery to recover the funds without reporting the theft to the police.
Following the revelations, the ATM requested Parliament to institute Section 89 impeachment proceedings, accusing Ramaphosa of violating the Parliamentary Code of Ethics and committing serious misconduct by failing to report the robbery at his home, alleging an “unlawful concealment of cash”.
The Section 89 independent panel, led by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, released its report on November 30, 2022, finding prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious misconduct or violated the constitution.
Despite the panel's findings, the ANC majority in the National Assembly voted against adopting the report on December 13, 2022, effectively halting the impeachment process.
In the letter dated April 10, 2026, the party stated that the IPID report confirms and “materially strengthens” the 2022 Section 89 independent panel findings.
In her response, Didiza stated that the requirements for a new inquiry under Rule 129A were not met.
The speaker labelled the request “incompetent”, arguing that the matter is already concluded.
Didiza said her decision was guided by the Constitution and the established rules of the National Assembly.
During a television interview following the decision, ATM leader Vuyo Zungula said the battle is not over yet, adding that Parliament has a constitutional duty to investigate when legal experts suggest there is a case to answer, calling previous failures to do so “irrational and unlawful”.
He added that as long as the ATM remains in Parliament, the party will not stop fighting for executive accountability.
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said Didiza’s decision does not come as a surprise, adding that she is not a neutral player.
Seepe said Didiza, as a senior member of the ANC, would be hauled over the coals if she allowed the initiation of the Section 89 inquiry.
“Such a move would be career-limiting. She does not want to suffer the same fate as her predecessor, Ms. Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula,” he said.
Seepe added there is enough evidence available for opposition parties to pursue private litigation on the matter.
“Private prosecution would taint Ramaphosa’s presidency as it would keep the Phala Phala scandal in the public imagination.”
Another analyst, Ntsikelelo Breakfast, said Ramaphosa should lead as an example with regards to accountability.
manyane.manyane@inl.co.za