The entrance to pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm Phala Phala. (Photo: Provided)
Maj. Gen. Wally Rhoode, the head of the presidential protection unit whose name often appears in the Phala Phala report on the theft of US dollars on Phala Phala, pres. Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in 2020, never informed his commander of this theft worth millions of rands or about the security breach on the farm.
This is part of the findings in the report on the theft on the president’s farm in 2020. ActionSA obtained the report and published it on Friday.
The independent police directorate’s (Opod) report was completed in October 2023.
However, after a disciplinary hearing related to the theft on the farm, Roode was acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Rhoode and Const. Hulani Rekhoto is identified in the report as key figures “who were most involved in the alleged misconduct”.
According to the report, Rhoode and Rekhoto were approached and given the opportunity to respond to the allegations made against them.
Opod’s investigation revealed that Rhoode was informed by Ramaphosa in 2020 that money from the sale of animals from the farm was missing. “He assured the president that he would report the incident to his seniors and give feedback (to the president).”
The investigation revealed that, according to the police’s organizational structures and the policy of the presidential protection service, Rhoode took the matter directly to Gen. Khehla Sitole, the then commissioner of police, reported. Sithole, for his part, said he took the matter up with the late Lt. Gen. Sindile Mfazi reported and not to the national commissioner. According to organizational structures of the presidential protection service, violations of which members become aware must be reported to his or her commander as soon as possible.
Opod’s investigation revealed that Sitole was never informed about the alleged security breach and theft of money from livestock sales to be placed on the president and that he only became aware of it after his retirement in the media. Rhoode claims Mfazi requested him to gather preliminary information about the incident and possible suspects in the alleged security breach.
Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa. (Foto: Facebook/ Cyril Ramaphosa)
Rhoode claims in his statement that case files or cases are assigned to him for the investigation of criminal complaints. “Maj. Gen. Rhoode failed to open or ensure that a file for burglary and theft was opened, after the president reported a crime to him, so that dedicated investigators attached to a specific investigation unit in the police could be tasked with it,” the report says.
According to information, three days after receiving the information from Rekhoto, Rhoode instructed him and Mahlangu to travel to Cape Town. “In a letter to (the police’s) finances, he falsified the purpose of the trip by indicating that it was to attend meetings with the president’s office and for management tasks, while he knew they were following up on information about the suspects in the Phala Phala farm theft.”
Information in the report shows that Rekhoto lied in his affidavit that he went to Cape Town to meet with Rhoode and a research team. “This was after he was confronted by Opod with questions, especially about the reason for his trip to Cape Town.” Nor could he provide proof of the meetings, such as minutes of the meeting or an attendance register.
According to Rekhoto’s notes and interview transcripts from the office of the Public Protector, he gathered information against the suspects involved in the burglary and theft on Phala Phala. The suspects were Immanuela Natangwe David, Simon Hidjapo and Shooya Eerki Shikongo.