CR submits his response to Phala Phala law panel

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has submitted his response denying any wrongdoing to Parliament’s Section 89 legal triumvirate investigating whether he has a case to answer in relation to the Phala Phala saga.

Parliamentary Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula in September announced the establishment of the panel comprising former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Judge Sandile Ngcobo, former Judge of the Gauteng Division of the High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa, and advocate Mahlape Sello, SC.

The panel is investigating whether Ramaphosa has a case to answer regarding an unreported burglary at his Phala Phala farm in February 2020 in which millions of US dollars was allegedly stolen.

This comes months after former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid a criminal case against Ramaphosa and his thenhead of the Presidential Protection Unit, Wally Rhoode, for allegedly kidnapping and torturing five men and a woman to reveal where they hid the millions from the president’s farm.

Fraser alleged, in a sworn statement, that Rhoode “instructed” Ramaphosa to pay the suspects R150 000 each to buy their silence.

According to several reports, Ramaphosa allegedly failed to open a case and Rhoode worked in the shadows to trace the suspects by abusing state resources.

Former president Thabo Mbeki and former president Kgalema Mothlante have raised their concerns about the Phala Phala incident.

In a statement yesterday, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, said: “The president’s submission affirms his committed co-operation with due process.

“President Ramaphosa has always made certain that throughout his tenure as president, he abides by his oath of office and sets an example in his respect for the Constitution, its institutions, due process and the rule of law.

“President Ramaphosa categorically denies that he violated this oath in any way, and denies that he is guilty of any of the allegations made against him.”