The ghost of the alleged cover‑up linked to the Phala Phala farm theft continue to haunt President Cyril Ramaphosa, this time the opposition African Transformation Movement (ATM) has written to National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza requesting that impeachment proceedings be initiated.
The party’s move follows the release of an Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report that sharply criticises members of the Presidential Protection Service for their handling of the 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo farm.
While the IPID report does not make findings against the president, it accuses Major General Wally Rhoode and Constable Hlulani Rekhoto of breaching police procedures and failing to comply with legal obligations during the investigation.
ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona said the report leaves Ramaphosa “irreparably compromised” and called for the suspension and prosecution of those implicated.
The party has also urged Parliament to establish an ad‑hoc committee through the Portfolio Committee on Police and for the Joint Standing Committee on Intelligence to intervene, citing what it describes as unlawful intelligence‑style operations linked to the matter.
The Phala Phala scandal first erupted in 2022 when allegations surfaced that large sums of foreign currency had been stolen from the president’s farm and that the incident was not reported through official channels.
In December that year, Parliament rejected an independent panel report that had suggested Ramaphosa may have a case to answer, effectively halting impeachment efforts at the time.
ATM says the latest IPID findings revive unresolved questions about the handling of the burglary and the conduct of those tasked with protecting the president.
Parliament is yet to respond to the party’s request.
JN/APA