Key Takeaways
- The Portfolio Committee on Police has ordered an in‑person meeting with the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) and senior SAPS generals after a declassified report revealed an off‑the‑books investigation into the Phala Phala scandal.
- The report found that General Wally Rhoode, head of the Presidential Protection Unit, and Constable Hlulani Rekhoto conducted the investigation without reporting it to the national police commissioner, violating SAPS regulations.
- Despite the findings, SAPS exonerated Rhoode and Rekhoto, prompting accusations from opposition MPs of a cover‑up and demands for accountability, especially regarding the missing “couch” that allegedly held the stolen cash.
- MPs repeatedly questioned the whereabouts of the couch, the handling of evidence, and the credibility of the investigation, highlighting concerns about possible tampering and the independence of Ipid.
- The committee also heard allegations of kidnapping, torture and assault linked to Namibian suspects employed at the farm; the victims later withdrew their statements, raising further doubts.
- General Sindile Mfazi, who allegedly gave Rhoode the unlawful instruction, is reported to have died of COVID‑19, but his family suspect poisoning, adding another layer of controversy.
- The Constitutional Court recently struck down a parliamentary rule that had stalled the impeachment process against President Cyril Ramaphosa, obliging Parliament to form a proper Section 89 impeachment committee to examine the Phala Phala matter.
- Opposition members stressed the need for transparency, photographic evidence from the crime scene, and a thorough, independent inquiry, warning that persistent evasiveness could undermine public trust in both the police and the presidency.
Background of the Phala Phala Scandal
The Phala Phala controversy centres on the alleged theft of US dollars concealed in furniture on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Limpopo farm in December 2020. The matter remained hidden until June 2022, when former intelligence chief Arthur Fraser lodged a criminal concealment case against the President, claiming that $580,000 (later estimated by police forensic analysis to be closer to R15 million) had been stolen from a couch used as a makeshift safe. Fraser’s own claim of $4 million has never been substantiated. The theft has become a persistent political liability for Ramaphosa, feeding impeachment discussions and public skepticism about his involvement.
Committee’s Initial Online Hearing
On 13 May, the Portfolio Committee on Police convened an online session to discuss a declassified Ipid report. Committee chairperson Ian Cameron noted that after four hours of rigorous questioning, Ipid representatives and senior police generals appeared evasive and vague. Their inability to provide clear answers led Cameron to announce that they would be recalled for a full, in‑person meeting to uncover the truth behind the investigation and its handling.
Findings of the Ipid Report
The declassified Ipid report concluded that General Wally Rhoode, who heads the Presidential Protection Unit, and Constable Hlulani Rekhoto conducted an off‑the‑books inquiry into the Phala Phala theft. Crucially, they failed to report the investigation to the national police commissioner, Kehla Sitole, as required by SAPS regulations. Instead, Rhoode claimed he had received verbal authorization from General Sindile Mfazi, whose death—officially attributed to COVID‑19—is disputed by his family, who allege possible poisoning.
Exoneration and Opposition Reaction
Despite the regulatory breaches identified by Ipid, SAPS announced that Rhoode and Rekhoto had been exonerated and would retain their positions. Opposition MPs, including ActionSA’s Dereleen James, EFF’s Muzi Khoza, and MK party’s Thulani Shongwe, reacted with disbelief, accusing the authorities of a cover‑up. James repeatedly demanded, “Where is the couch?” emphasizing that the piece of furniture allegedly holding the stolen cash had never been formally logged as evidence, raising concerns about possible tampering or destruction of crucial proof.
The Couch Conundrum
The couch has become a symbolic focal point of the scandal. MPs argued that, in any criminal investigation, an object directly linked to the alleged crime—such as a sofa where money was hidden—should be secured and documented as evidence. Police officials claimed they only began investigating in 2022 and lacked information on how the original crime scene was processed, seized, or sealed. Repeated questioning by James, Shongwe, and others yielded no satisfactory answers, reinforcing suspicions that the couch may have been removed, refurbished, or otherwise disposed of to obscure the trail.
Allegations of Kidnapping, Torture, and Assault
The committee also examined a separate case involving Namibian nationals Floriana and Ndilinasho Joseph, who worked at Phala Phala and were accused by their family of kidnapping, torture, and assault. Police stated that the alleged victims had “vehemently denied” the incidents and subsequently withdrew their statements. MK MP David Skosana questioned why the family had opened a kidnapping case in the first place and pressed for photographic evidence from the crime scene, insisting that the public deserved to see raw, unfiltered proof rather than media‑mediated accounts.
Role of General Sindile Mfazi
Central to the off‑the‑books investigation allegation is the claim that General Sindile Mfazi authorized Rhoode’s actions. Mfazi’s reported death from COVID‑19 has been met with skepticism by his family, who believe he may have been poisoned. ATM MP Vuyo Zungula pressed for concrete evidence linking Mfazi to the unlawful instruction, highlighting the lack of documentation and the reliance on hearsay. The uncertainty surrounding Mfazi’s involvement further fuels perceptions of a possible cover‑up reaching high levels within the police hierarchy.
Implications for the Impeachment Process
The Constitutional Court’s recent ruling that a parliamentary rule halting the impeachment process against President Ramaphosa was unconstitutional means Parliament must now establish a proper Section 89 committee to scrutinize the Phala Phala matter. Opposition leaders, including Zungula and the EFF, have welcomed the decision, viewing it as an opportunity to hold the President accountable. Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia conceded that certain watchdog classification rules may need amendment while denying any political pressure on Ipid, yet the persistent evasiveness witnessed in the committee hearing suggests deeper systemic issues.
Committee’s Resolve for an In‑Person Meeting
Frustrated by the vague responses during the online session, Chairperson Ian Cameron concluded that only a face‑to‑face gathering—where cameras cannot be switched off—would compel Ipid and police officials to provide transparent, substantive answers. The committee’s decision to recall the watchdog and senior generals underscores its determination to uncover whether procedural violations, evidence mishandling, or deliberate obstruction occurred in the Phala Phala investigation. As opposition MP Dereleen James famously summed up, “It’s third time lucky: waar is die couch?”—a reminder that, until the missing piece of evidence is accounted for, doubts about the integrity of the investigation and the presidency will persist.