ActionSA has accused the Independent Police Investigative Directorate of refusing to release the Phala Phala report into the conduct of members of the Presidential Protection Unit in relation to the investigations into the 2022 robbery.
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ActionSA has accused the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) of deliberately delaying the release of its investigation report into the controversial Phala Phala scandal, raising fresh questions about transparency and accountability within law enforcement structures.
The party on Wednesday said IPID’s latest request for an extension in responding to its legal demand for the report suggests either political interference or internal defiance.
“The continued refusal by IPID to supply the investigation report… suggests that there may be a deeper issue,” ActionSA’s Matthew George said.
The party further alleged that the situation points to a contradiction involving Police Minister Feroz Cachalia, who previously told Parliament that the report had been declassified.
“Either the minister was not candid with the South African public when he made that claim, or IPID is deliberately disregarding the minister’s declaration. Either scenario raises serious concerns that warrant answers,” George said.
According to ActionSA, the IPID report into the conduct of the Presidential Protection Unit during the investigation of the 2020 robbery at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm was declassified in early February following sustained pressure.
At the time, Cachalia indicated that access to the report would require a formal application under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). However, ActionSA claims that even after submitting the necessary legal requests, IPID has failed to release the document.
“Now, a month later, IPID appears to be employing Stalingrad tactics to prevent the release of this report,” George said.
The party questioned the basis on which the report is still being withheld if it has indeed been declassified, asking: “What is contained in IPID’s report that South Africans are not meant to know, and who does it implicate?”
The Phala Phala matter has remained one of the most politically sensitive issues in recent years, centering on the theft of foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s private farm and subsequent actions taken by members of his security detail.
ActionSA argues that the IPID report represents a critical final layer of accountability, particularly following findings by the Public Protector of South Africa that members of the Presidential Protection Unit may have acted outside the law in their handling of the incident.
“Whitewashed findings have emerged from various government institutions,” George claimed, adding that some political actors who were previously vocal have since gone quiet.
The statement comes as the EFF is holding a picket outside the Constitutional Court to call for the release of the Phala Phala judgment, which is over 480 days behind.
ActionSA confirmed it has written to Cachalia seeking clarity on IPID’s apparent refusal to act on PAIA applications despite his earlier assurances.
George added that the party would continue to pursue the matter through legal channels and parliamentary pressure, positioning itself as a key opposition voice within the current Government of National Unity.
The Phala Phala scandal first emerged in 2022, triggering multiple investigations by state institutions, including Parliament and independent watchdogs.
While some processes have cleared or softened findings against the president, critics argue that key questions remain unanswered, particularly around the handling of the initial robbery and the role of law enforcement.
IPID, which is mandated to investigate misconduct by police, is seen as central to resolving those outstanding issues.
karabo.ngoepe@inl.co.za