An investigation by South Africa’s acting Public Protector (Ombudsman) Kholeka Gcaleka on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s handling of a robbery at his farm three years ago has found that the president did not violate the Executive Ethics Code, APA learnt on Sunday.
The country’s opposition parties had asked Gcaleka to look into the alleged attempted cover-up of the February 2020 Phala Phala farm robbery to establish whether Ramaphosa violated the Executive Ethics Code.
Gcaleka, however, exonerated President Cyril Ramaphosa and instead blamed the president’s adviser, Bejani Chauke, the head of Presidential Protection Services (PPS), Wally Rhoode and police officer Hlulani Rikhotso for mishandling the issue.
On the allegation that Ramaphosa failed to report the crime and abused his power using state resources by getting Rhoode to investigate the crime, Gcaleka said the claim was unsubstantiated.
There was no evidence to support there was an intention to conceal the crime and abuse of power as well as state resources, she said.
Gcaleka concluded that Ramaphosa followed the proper channels when he reported the robbery and that the deployment of PPS officers at his private residence did not amount to an abuse of power.
Gcaleka’s investigation found the allegation that Ramaphosa exposed himself to the 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, “is not substantiated” as well.
She said her investigation revealed that Phala Phala farm was managed by Ntaba Nyoni Close Corporation on land owned and registered under the Tshivhase Trust.
Evidence and information before Gcaleka indicated that the US$580,000 stolen at Phala Phala farm in February 2020 emanated from a private cash transaction between private persons, the report said.
NM/jn/APA