By Simon Nare
The Portfolio Committee on Police has accused the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and the South African Police Service (SAPS) of attempting to cover up the theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Bela Bela, Limpopo.
The accusations emerged during Parliament’s consideration on Tuesday of IPID’s report into the controversial Phala Phala theft, in which burglars broke into the farm and allegedly discovered large sums of U.S. dollars hidden inside a sofa.
The theft was not officially reported to the police at the time.
Instead, it only became public two years later, in June 2022, when former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges and alleged a cover-up involving the kidnapping and bribery of suspects.
Irate MPs demanded answers over why the police watchdog classified portions of its report into the burglary at the president’s farm.
Some committee members, including uMkhonto we Sizwe Party MP David Skosana, also expressed disappointment with IPID’s handling of the matter and vowed that the alleged cover-up would be addressed during any impeachment process.
Skosana questioned how Constable Hlulani Rekhoto and Major General Wally Rhoode, the former head of the Presidential Protection Unit (PPU), were exonerated through internal disciplinary processes despite what he described as clear misconduct.
The two are alleged to have conducted an “off-the-books” investigation into the theft of more than $500,000 allegedly stolen from Ramaphosa’s farm.
In its presentation to the committee, IPID said the undercover investigation was unlawful and that the use of state resources during the operation was also unlawful.
According to the presentation, Rekhoto confirmed that he had been instructed by Rhoode to travel to various locations in Cape Town to identify and monitor addresses linked to the suspects.
IPID said its investigation established that Rhoode failed to report the offence to the national commissioner and failed to register, or ensure the registration of, a case docket relating to the housebreaking and theft.
The directorate said that, following its “thorough, independent and impartial investigation” conducted in line with its legislative mandate, it concluded that the actions constituted misconduct and recommended disciplinary action.
IPID further stated that, while it could not establish the unlawfulness of the border crossing, it noted that Rhoode and Ramaphosa’s former adviser, Dr Bejani Chauke, travelled to Namibia on June 26, 2020, in pursuit of the suspects.
The directorate also revealed that a kidnapping case was opened at the Bela-Bela police station on August 15, 2022, against individuals linked to Ramaphosa.
The case was later withdrawn by the complainants.
The allegations stemmed from claims that suspects were bribed to conceal the housebreaking and theft.
In a separate presentation to the committee, SAPS said its investigation into corruption and money laundering allegations had been finalised and that prosecutors declined to prosecute after considering the evidence.
However, SAPS said the housebreaking and theft case opened in Bela-Bela against three suspects was continuing.
The State has since closed its case, and the suspects are expected to appear in court again on May 25 and 26, 2026.
Police added that extradition requests had been lodged for two other suspects believed to be outside South Africa.
Committee members also raised concerns about whether investigations into the alleged illegal crossing into Namibia by Rhoode and Chauke had been fully concluded.
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