The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) says the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo not to prosecute anyone in the controversial Phala Phala saga is a continuation of a pattern by key state institutions to shield president Cyril Ramaphosa from accounting for his crimes.
On Thursday, 10 October, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that the Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, advocate Mukhali Thenga, decided not to prosecute following a comprehensive investigation process conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation.
EFF ACCUSES NPA OF SHIELDING RAMAPHOSA IN PHALA PHALA CASE
The South African previously reported that in June 2022, former State Security Agency Director General Arthur Fraser laid a criminal complaint against Ramaphosa following the theft of $4 million that was hidden in a couch during a break-in at his Phala Phala game farm in Bela Bela, Limpopo, in February 2020.
Ramaphosa admitted to a break-in at his game farm but never reported the matter. Fraser then called on the SAPS to investigate Ramaphosa’s conduct, alleging that it amounted to the commission of money laundering and corruption.
“The DPP made her decision in line with the Prosecution Policy of the NPA, which states that a prosecutor, in deciding whether to institute criminal proceedings against an accused person, must assess whether there is sufficient and admissible evidence to provide a reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution,” a statement from the NPA read.
The EFF which has been vocal about holding Ramaphosa accountable since the incident made headlines said the statesman was exposed to have undermined the laws that regulate the entrance and managing of foreign currency and all financial transactions that pertain to the exchange of foreign currency in South Africa.
The Red Berets said they will not rest until Ramaphosa is held accountable.
“Like Zuma, he will have no protection when he is removed from office. In fact, the same institutions that are protecting him from accounting, will be at the forefront to ensure that he is imprisoned when he exits office, as we have seen with Zuma,” the party said.
PRESIDENY CLEARED OF WRONGDOING
In late 2022, an Independent Section 89 Panel found that there was prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa had violated his oath of office and broke anti-corruption laws after the cash was stolen from his farm in 2020.
In December 2023, the National Assembly debated whether to adopt or reject the Section 89 report. As previously reported, 214 Members of Parliament voted against the adoption, averting Ramaphosa’s potential impeachment.
Probes by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) and the Public Protector found President Cyril Ramaphosa not guilty of breaching the Executive Ethics Code.
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