The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has expressed its dissatisfaction with the decision of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) not to prosecute anyone in the Phala Phala farm case, saying the reason given is not convincing.
This follows the announcement by Limpopo Director of Public Prosecutions Ivy Thenga on Thursday that there was no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution based on the evidence provided.
ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona says, “The NPA needs to just reveal the report – take us into its confidence and show us how it arrived at this point. The fact that his [Ramaphosa’s] own affidavit has actually said this incident occurred and I didn’t report the loss… subsection 34, subsection 1 is clear that any person in authority who knows or suspects corruption involving R100 000 or more must report it to a DPCI office, and the president did not do that.”
No prosecution relating to Phala Phala
‘No reasonable prospect’
In 2022, former State Security Agency head Arthur Fraser filed a criminal complaint against President Cyril Ramaphosa and his head of security, Wally Roode, accusing them of money laundering and corruption related to a break-in and theft of approximately $580 000 at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Bela Bela.
NPA’s spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga says, “This decision follows a comprehensive investigation process that was conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI) following a complaint laid by Mr Arthur Fraser with the South African Police Service. The criminal complaint was registered against the President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa.
“The decision not to prosecute was taken by the DPP after a careful assessment of all available evidence presented to the prosecutors by the DPCI. She concluded that there is no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution based on evidence contained in the police docket,” Mhaga explains.
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