EFF accuses President Cyril Ramaphosa of orchestrating “state cover-up” in explosive Phala Phala fallout.
Image: AFP
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of being at the centre of a “coordinated abuse of state power” following the release of a report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) into the controversial Phala Phala farm theft.
The party said the IPID findings “confirm a coordinated abuse of state power to conceal criminal conduct linked to Cyril Ramaphosa” after millions in foreign currency were stolen from the president’s private farm in 2020.
The EFF said the report exposes “a disturbing pattern of illegality, misconduct, and institutional decay” within the Presidential Protection Unit and elements of the South African Police Service (SAPS).
It alleged that senior police officials were aware of the theft of $580 000 but failed to open a criminal case.
“Senior SAPS officials were informed of the theft but deliberately failed to register a criminal case or report the matter in accordance with the law,” the party said.
Instead, the EFF claims, officials conducted an unlawful parallel investigation.
“These officials embarked on an unlawful investigation including the concealment of the crime, the use of state resources to pursue suspects, and the abuse of police authority to protect the private financial interests of the President.”
The party further alleged that police actions went beyond procedural violations, accusing members of unlawful arrests and interrogations.
According to the EFF, “suspects were tracked, detained, and questioned without any registered case docket, in complete violation of constitutional and policing protocols.”
It also raised concerns about alleged cross-border operations and the handling of the stolen money, saying the report points to “unlawful cross-border activities raising serious questions about the extent of the cover-up and the misuse of state machinery beyond South Africa’s borders.”
The EFF criticised what it described as the misuse of public resources, claiming police personnel and funds were used for a private matter.
“Public funds were used to conduct what was effectively a private recovery operation for the President’s undeclared foreign currency,” the party said, calling it “a gross violation of public trust.”
The party also highlighted what it called contradictions within government, referencing remarks by acting police minister Firoz Cachalia that Major General Wally Rhoode had been cleared in an internal process despite IPID recommending disciplinary action.
Linking the report to broader accountability processes, the EFF said: “It is now clear that President Cyril Ramaphosa has a clear case to answer for. The convergence of these findings demonstrates a consistent pattern of concealment, abuse of power, and evasion of accountability at the highest level of the state.”
The party expressed concern over delays in the release of the IPID report and ongoing legal processes, including its Constitutional Court challenge related to the Section 89 inquiry.
It argued that these delays “point to a deliberate attempt to shield President Ramaphosa from accountability.”
The EFF further accused several state institutions of failing to act independently in the matter, saying their conduct “raises serious concerns about their independence and willingness to hold the President accountable.”
The party called for criminal action against those implicated.
“We therefore demand the immediate institution of criminal proceedings against all SAPS members implicated and a full, transparent criminal investigation into the role of President Cyril Ramaphosa,” it said.
“As we have consistently stated,” the EFF added, “President Cyril Ramaphosa has a case to answer and must face the full might of the law.”
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