Zuko Komisa
Acting Public Protector clears Ramaphosa of any misconduct in the Phala Phala saga.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been exonerated by the Office of the Public Protector in relation to the Phala Phala farm issue.
On Friday, Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka released a final report into the matter.
Following accusations from Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen, African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader Vuyo Zungula, and two members of the public, the Public Protector looked into the 2020 break-in at the president’s farm in Waterberg, Limpopo.
In her report, Gcaleka concluded that while they looked into the president’s involvement in the incident, they couldn’t find any solid proof that would connect him to the actions that allegedly led to several suspects being “tortured” for their alleged involvement in the theft of several million rand worth of US currency that was allegedly hidden in couches at the president’s farm in Bela Bela.
Point of View with Phemelo Motene spoke to Freedonm Front Plus Leader, Dr Pieter Groenewald and African Transformation Movement Leader Vuyo Zungula for reaction, Legal Analyst Mpumelelo Zikalala helps us make sense of the report.
Listen to the full conversation here:
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Ramaphosa, his security chief Wally Rhoode, his adviser Bejani Chauke, National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola, and others were all the subject of the probe into their behavior.
Gcaleka clarified that even though Ramaphosa acknowledged having other financial interests, this did not imply that the president did paid labor outside of his official capacity.
“Considering the evidence in its entirety and the application of the law, there is no basis to exalt such deliberations to a degree where it can be held that there existed a real or potential conflict of interests on the part of the president regarding his duty as the head of Cabinet and his interests in game and cattle farming at Phala Phala farm in violation of the Code,”
“Accordingly, the allegation that the president improperly and in violation of the provisions of the Executive Ethics Code exposed him to any risk of a conflict between his constitutional duties and obligations and his private interests arising from or affected by his alleged paid work at Phala Phala farm, is not substantiated,” the Acting Public Protector added.
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