Masemola must act against Rhoode for role in Phala Phala saga – Gcaleka

Delivering her final report into the alleged attempted cover-up of the theft of millions worth of undeclared foreign currency at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s private farm, the public protector found Ramaphosa was unaware of the clandestine probe led by Rhoode.

Gcaleka found that Rhoode and Sergeant Hlulani Rekhotho acted improperly when investigating the burglary.

Last year, during a question and answer session in Parliament, Ramaphosa denied that he had failed to report the crime in terms of the, saying he expected Rhoode to follow due process after he had notified him about the theft. 

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Gcakela cleared the president of any abuse of power, adding that the complainant (DA leader John Steenhuisen) failed to provide evidence that the president consented to or knew about the use of state resources - the PPS in this instance - beyond its mandate. 

She found Rhoode failed to report the incident to his line manager, the national police commissioner, and that he went on to investigate without formally registering the case with the police.

“The evidence and objectively ascertainable facts around the activities of General Rhoode, Sergeant Rekhoto, and Nick do not support the assertion that these were primarily aimed at conducting a threat assessment in respect of the president or his private residence at Phala Phala farm in accordance with the applicable legislative framework.”

On the involvement of Ramaphosa’s advisor Bejani Chauke in travelling to Namibia, where the alleged burglars had reportedly been traced, Gcaleka said there was no evidence to support any link between the probe and the trip.

She recommended that the police minister take note of the improper conduct of the officers attached to the PPS, and called on national commissioner Fannie Masemola to act against them.  

“The national police commissioner must, within 60  calendar days from the date of receipt of this report, ensure that appropriate action is initiated against Gen. Rhoode and Sgt Rekhoto for contraventions of the SAPS prescripts as highlighted in this report, in line with the provisions of section 40 of the SAPS Act and Regulation 6 of the SAPS Discipline Regulations, 2016.”

Rhoode remains the head of the presidents’ protection services and was recently thrust back into the spotlight during the diplomatic standoff between South Africa and Poland when Ramaphosa led the African peace mission to Ukraine and Russia.

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The police are expected to give feedback on the implementation of the remedial action to the public protector as part of her monitoring efforts.

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