The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have issued a scathing assessment of the recently released Independent Police Investigative Directorate report concerning the Phala Phala farm scandal.
The party characterises the findings as definitive proof of a coordinated abuse of state power designed to shield President Cyril Ramaphosa from the consequences of criminal conduct. According to the EFF, the report uncovers a deep-seated culture of institutional decay within the South African Police Service and the Presidential Protection Unit.
Allegations of organised cover-up and misconduct
The statement specifically names Major General Wally Rhoode and Constable Hlulani Rekhoto as key figures who were informed of the theft of $580,000 from the President's private farm but deliberately chose not to register a formal criminal case.
Instead of following the legal dictates of the SAPS Act, these officials allegedly embarked on an unlawful investigation that included the concealment of the original crime and the misuse of state resources to protect the President's private financial interests.
Constitutional violations and cross-border operations
The EFF highlights that the IPID investigation reveals a series of constitutional violations, including the tracking and interrogation of suspects outside of legal procedures, which the party equates to kidnapping.
These activities reportedly extended beyond South Africa's borders into Namibia, raising serious questions about the extent of the cover-up and the misuse of public funds for a private recovery operation.
The party also points to allegations of bribery aimed at silencing those involved in the events of February 2020, labeling the entire saga as a gross violation of public trust and an example of fruitless and wasteful expenditure.
Failures in accountability and institutional protection
A significant point of contention raised in the statement is the apparent contradiction in accountability. While the IPID recommended disciplinary action against Rhoode and Rekhoto, the EFF notes that acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia previously claimed Rhoode was cleared in an internal process.
The party views this as a deliberate attempt by the President's own cabinet to suppress justice. The EFF further asserts that other state institutions, such as the South African Revenue Service and the South African Reserve Bank, have similarly failed to hold the President accountable, reflecting a dangerous trend of political interference within the security apparatus.
Demands for criminal proceedings and presidential inquiry
The EFF concludes its statement by demanding the immediate institution of criminal proceedings against all SAPS members implicated in the unlawful activities described in the report.
Furthermore, they call for a full and transparent criminal investigation into President Ramaphosa's personal role in the concealment of the theft and the subsequent abuse of state machinery.
The party maintains that the convergence of these findings demonstrates that the President is at the center of a network that undermines the rule of law and is no longer fit to hold public office.