President Cyril Ramaphosa has made his submission to the independent panel appointed by parliament to probe the theft of foreign currency at his farm in Limpopo two years ago, the Presidency said on Monday.
The panel, formally called the Section 89 Independent Panel, is expected to officially start its assessment of whether Ramaphosa has a case to answer on constitutional grounds from Monday until Thursday next week.
Former chief justice Sandile Ngcobo chairs the panel and will be assisted by advocate Mahlape Sello and former high court judge Thokozile Masipa.
The panel has 30 days to conclude its work and its recommendations will likely play a big role in Ramaphosa’s bid to secure a second term as ANC president when the party elects its new leaders in December. Ramaphosa faces serious challenge from former health minister Zweli Mkhize.
The president’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said in a statement that Ramaphosa’s submission affirms his cooperation with due process.
“President Ramaphosa has always made certain that throughout his tenure as president, he abides by his oath of office and sets an example in his respect for the constitution, its institutions, due process and the rule of law,” said Magwenya.
“President Ramaphosa categorically denies that he violated this oath in any way and denies that he is guilty of any of the allegations made against him.”
The theft at Ramaphosa’s game farm in 2020 has been a hot political potato since it surfaced five months ago.
In June, former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser alleged that $4-million (R71-million) was stolen at Ramaphosa’s farm. Fraser reported a kidnapping and money-laundering case against Ramaphosa, Major-General Wally Rhoode, and crime intelligence members for allegedly concealing and not officially reporting a burglary at the farm in February 2020.
Fraser named Imanuwela David, Errki Shikongo, Petrus Muhekeni, Shaumbwako and Petrus Afrikaner as the alleged perpetrators of the heist. The former spy boss, who is largely seen as an ally of former president Jacob Zuma, also alleged people suspected of being involved were questioned in an off-book operation.
He claimed that immediately after the incident, Rhoode constituted a team of former police and serving members of crime intelligence to hunt down the suspects all the way to Namibia.
Sunday World reported in October that the future of Rhoode hangs in the balance after he was slapped with three charges over his alleged failure to report the multimillion-rand theft at Ramaphosa’s game farm.
Rhoode, the demoted head of the presidential protection unit, has been slapped with a notice of suspension related to his role in the Phala Phala theft. Sunday World understands that Lt-Gen Samson Shitlabane, under whom the unit was recently transferred, served Rhoode with a notice of suspension in September.
In July, national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, who had just ascended to his post, announced that Rhoode would no longer report directly to the commissioner but to Shitlabane, a move that could be viewed as sidelining the major-general, who was head of security during Ramaphosa’s 2017 campaign to become ANC president.
Rhoode is facing three charges of serious misconduct including that he failed to open a case after the break-in at the farm and instead decided to conduct an investigation himself.
Ramaphosa’s trusted lieutenant charged over Phala Phala cover up
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