By Johnathan Paoli
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has asked Parliament’s portfolio committee on police to summon the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) over its Phala Phala farm investigation.
In a letter addressed to committee chairperson Ian Cameron, ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula requested the committee’s following a protracted engagement between the party and IPID regarding access to the report.
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“This request arises from a sustained and well-documented engagement by the ATM with IPID over a period exceeding two years, coupled with serious concerns regarding transparency, accountability, and parliamentary oversight in a matter of significant public interest involving the South African Police Service (SAPS) and senior state officials,” Zungula wrote.
The ATM said it lodged a written complaint with IPID’s then executive director, Dikeledi Ntlatseng, on 21 June 2022, requesting an investigation into allegations of a police cover-up relating to the Phala Phala burglary.
The Phala Phala scandal centres on a 2022 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm, after Ramaphosa confirmed that cash had been stolen from the property. The incident triggered allegations of a police cover-up and questions about how the money was handled and whether it was properly declared.
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The complaint referenced confirmation by Ramaphosa of the burglary, with the alleged cross-border involvement of Namibian authorities, and claims implicating senior SAPS officials in what the ATM said was an “off-the-books investigation”.
Following sworn statements and a meeting at IPID offices on 11 July 2022, Zungula said it was agreed that the ATM would receive weekly progress reports.
“These undertakings were never honoured,” he alleged.
After more than six months without feedback, the ATM wrote again on 26 January 2023 seeking updates and warning that the prolonged silence was undermining public confidence.
On the same day, the party lodged a request in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) for access to the completed report.
“This request was either refused or ignored, despite the matter having been finalised,” Zungula said.
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The ATM said it had concerns about “an admission” by IPID leadership during engagements with the party, including a claim that most of its complaints were upheld — a contention that has not been independently confirmed from public documents.
“Of particular importance…the Director alluded to the fact that seven out of the eleven complaints formally submitted by the ATM were found to be qualified, substantiated, and to have indeed occurred,” Zungula wrote.
He said IPID has not disclosed which specific allegations were upheld, which officials were implicated in each instance, what findings were made in respect of criminality or misconduct, and what remedial or disciplinary actions were recommended or instituted flowing from those findings.
The ATM said any redactions in the report should be limited protecting the identities of witnesses, and not to shield implicated officials under investigation.
Citing section 55(2) of the Constitution, the ATM argued that Parliament has a duty to exercise oversight over organs of state, including IPID.
The party asked the committee to summon IPID to present and account on the full contents and recommendations of the report and clearly identify the seven substantiated complaints and officials implicated.
ATM also wants MPs to interrogate delays and decisions; furnish the committee and the ATM with the complete report, subject to lawful limitations; and ensure the matter is ventilated in an open parliamentary forum.
The renewed pressure comes amid confusion over the report’s classification status.
The Ministry of Police, on Monday, rejected claims that Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia ordered the declassification of the IPID report.
Ministry spokesperson Kamogelo Mogotsi said media reports had misinterpreted a written parliamentary reply.
“The Ministry of Police notes the various articles circulating online and in the media regarding the declassification of the IPID report into the Phala Phala matter. This information originated from a written Parliamentary response provided by the Acting Minister,” Mogogtsi said.
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She stressed that while the minister is politically responsible for SAPS and its oversight bodies, each entity prepares its own responses within its legislative mandate.
In his reply to an earlier parliamentary question, Cachalia confirmed that IPID had concluded its probe into the conduct of SAPS members who handled the Phala Phala matter and that the report had been declassified on 2 February 2026.
However, he was unequivocal that the report would not be released publicly.
The ministry reiterated that any access would have to follow proper legal processes, including PAIA applications; a stance the ATM now wants tested through direct parliamentary scrutiny.