The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) has failed to meet the Friday deadline to respond to a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request for the release of the investigation report related to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm scandal, citing technical difficulties with the email system.
In an email last Wednesday to ActionSA, which first filed the PAIA application on April 22, Ipid’s Legal Investigation and Advisory Services official, Martha Sibiya, said the deadline will be extended by a further 30 days in terms of the act.
“Please be advised that this extension is necessary as our email systems were recently down. We will respond to your request in due course,” Sibiya said.
ActionSA wants answers
The extension comes after a series of emails between ActionSA chairperson Dewan de Swardt and IPID officials, spanning more than a month. During this time, the request’s completeness and necessary documentation were repeatedly under discussion.
Earlier, on April 30 2025, Sibiya wrote to De Swardt: “We acknowledge receipt of your PAIA request and confirm that your request is now complete. Your request will be forwarded to the Deputy Information Officer, who will assess it in accordance with the provisions…and determine whether the requested information can be located and lawfully disclosed.”
“Please note that, in terms of PAIA, the Information Officer has 30 calendar days to respond to your request. If there are challenges in locating or compiling the requested records, the response period may be extended by a further 30 days, in which case you will be duly informed.”
Procedural issues flagged
This followed a previous exchange on April 30, where Sibiya had flagged procedural issues.
“Please note that your request is currently incomplete and cannot be processed until the following matters are addressed: Unsigned PAIA Request Form… A certified copy of your identity document to authenticate your identity, as required in the form… Once the above information is submitted and verified, we will proceed with processing your request.”
De Swardt promptly replied with a signed application attached, as well as a copy of his ID.
The correspondence traces back to April 23. This was when Sibiya first requested further details to process the application, including the police station where the incident was reported and the case number. In response, De Swardt argued that such requirements did not apply in this instance.
“In terms of the police station where the incident was reported and the CAS number, if you read the content of my submission, I don’t believe that either of those requirements are applicable.”
The delays and extensions have raised questions about Ipid’s willingness to release the findings of its investigation into the high profile Phala Phala affair. Also whether the public will see the report in the near future.
Cash stolen from inside sofa on farm
Over $580,000 (about R8.7–million) in cash, stashed in a sofa, was stolen from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in February 2020. The thieves accessed the property by cutting a perimeter wire. They then entered through a window, and stole money hidden inside a couch.
A domestic worker, Froliana Joseph, allegedly discovered the cash. She then tipped off her brother (Ndilinasho Joseph) and Imanuwela David (the mastermind). The suspects laundered the money in Cape Town, purchasing luxury goods and vehicles. David flaunted his spending on social media.
Ramaphosa claimed the cash was payment from a so-called Sudanese businessman, Hazim Mustafa. He said it was for buffaloes sold in December 2019. Yet the buffaloes remained on the farm for over three years without Mustafa ever collecting them.
The theft was reported to the Presidential Protection Unit headed by Maj-Gen Wally Rhoode, not the police. And this was procedurally unusual. Ramaphosa also denied involvement in the kidnapping of the suspects, bribery, or money laundering.
In October last year, the NPA declined to prosecute Ramaphosa. It cited “insufficient evidence” of corruption, money laundering, or tax evasion. The NPA concluded the so-called buffalo sale was legitimate and no laws were broken.
SARS cleared Ramaphosa in the matter
Three accused (David, Froliana, and Ndilinasho Joseph) face charges related to the incident. These include housebreaking, theft, and money laundering. The trial was postponed to September 2025 due to Froliana’s medical condition.
The South African Reserve Bank in August 2023 found no exchange control violations in the matter. The transaction was “subject to unfulfilled conditions precedent” (i.e., incomplete). So Ramaphosa’s entity, Ntaba Nyoni Estates CC, had no legal entitlement to the foreign currency.
The Public Protector and Parliament in 2023 cleared Ramaphosa of “conflict of interest” and impeachment. A parliamentary inquiry found no grounds for misconduct, though opposition parties criticised it as a “cover-up”.
The EFF accused Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of shielding Ramaphosa. This came up after he classified the IPID investigative report as “Top Secret”.
