On Monday, the president confirmed he would proceed with a review in the controversial Phala Phala farm theft matter. He reiterated that he would not resign following last week’s Constitutional Court ruling directing Parliament to address the Phala Phala matter through an impeachment committee process.

ActionSA said its decision to open criminal charges follows new revelations regarding the true amount of money allegedly stolen from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in February 2020.

The charges will include violations of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act 12 of 2004, alleging that Ramaphosa deliberately failed to disclose the actual amount of money stolen.

‘The political landscape has shifted. Phala Phala is back in the spotlight’

Reports now suggest at least R15m was stolen during the burglary, significantly higher than the previously reported R10m, or US$580,000 (approximately R8.75m at the time).

The party would also pursue charges of fraud and perjury against the president, said ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont. “The political landscape has shifted. Phala Phala is back in the spotlight after last week’s Constitutional Court ruling.

“The ANC no longer holds a majority in Parliament. We will continue pursuing accountability through all available constitutional mechanisms to ensure that no one, including the President, is above the law,” added Beaumont.

The formal laying of charges will be led by Beaumont, ActionSA parliamentary chief whip Lerato Ngobeni, and the party’s Limpopo provincial chairperson, Victor Mothemela.

The Phala Phala controversy stems from a theft incident at Ramaphosa’s game farm in February 2020. In 2022, an independent panel established by the National Assembly found prima facie evidence suggesting that Ramaphosa may have engaged in serious misconduct and violated the Constitution.

Despite the findings, Parliament backed largely by an ANC majority vote at the time opted not to refer the matter to an impeachment committee. However, on Friday (8/5), the Constitutional Court overturned that decision, ruling that when an independent panel recommends further investigation, Parliament is obligated to act “unless and until the report is overturned on review”.

Ramaphosa has since confirmed his intention to challenge the Section 89 panel findings in court. The president had initially launched legal proceedings in 2022 but later withdrew them after Parliament declined to act on the panel’s adverse findings.

Opposition parties have meanwhile indicated that they will push for the matter to be fast-tracked through the courts as pressure mounts on the president over the long-running Phala Phala saga.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi sm

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