Pretoria, South Africa – The controversial Phala Phala farm saga has been thrust back into the national spotlight following the release of a previously classified report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). This report, detailing the conduct of police officers in the wake of the February 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm, has reignited scrutiny and brought a fresh wave of questions regarding inconsistencies in the official version of events that continue to plague the presidency.
The IPID report, which had been classified as “top secret” since October 2023, was finally released after a Promotion of Access to Information Act request by News24. Its findings are damning, revealing that Major General Wally Rhoode, head of the Presidential Protection Service, conducted an “off-the-books” investigation explicitly designed to “conceal” the burglary and the theft of a substantial amount of US dollars.
This revelation has intensified the pressure on President Ramaphosa, whose presidency has been clouded by persistent media speculation, public outcry, and political opposition since the scandal first erupted, nearly leading to his resignation. News24 has identified five critical areas where the official narrative presented by the President simply “does not add up,” alongside numerous other detailed inconsistencies.
1. The Enigmatic Namibian Trip: What was the Real Mission of Bejani Chauke?
Days after Imanuwela David, the chief suspect in the Phala Phala burglary, was arrested in Namibia for unlawfully crossing the border in June 2020, Major General Rhoode and Dr. Bejani Chauke, Ramaphosa’s special advisor and envoy, were also in Namibia. The IPID report confirms that Rhoode requested approval for this trip, stating he was “instructed” by Ramaphosa to accompany Chauke.
Officially, Chauke’s mission was to convey a message on national security to then-Namibian President Hage Geingob, concerning a third African country. However, the persistent secrecy surrounding the message’s content, coupled with the highly suspicious timing of the trip, fuels intense speculation. Nearly four years later, the matter remains shrouded in vague references to a “security issue.” If President Ramaphosa indeed instructed Chauke to solicit Geingob’s assistance in suppressing information about David’s role in the break-in, it would directly implicate the President in a concerted effort to cover up the Phala Phala incident.
2. The Mysterious Origin of the Cash: Where Did the Money Truly Come From?
The official account posits that Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa made an impromptu visit to Phala Phala on Christmas Day 2019, handing over $580,000 in cash to a farm manager. Mustafa, married to a South African woman, was reportedly staying with his family at Sun City when he supposedly decided to embark on a 175km journey – including 20km of gravel roads – to the President’s farm, limousine and bag of cash in tow. There, he allegedly purchased 20 buffalo, with the cash serving as a deposit.
This narrative has been met with consistent scepticism, primarily because the money was stolen within weeks, and the buffalo never left the farm. The notion that Mustafa would hand over the equivalent of R10 million and simply walk away, only to claim he wanted his money back after the scandal broke, strains credulity and remains a significant point of contention.
3. The True Extent of the Theft: How Much Money Was Actually Stolen?
This question is paramount. Early investigations by News24 revealed that the burglars spent far more than the officially stated $580,000 (approximately R10 million) in the aftermath of the theft. The suspects, who were previously struggling financially, suddenly acquired property in Cape Town worth nearly R2 million, and the chief suspect, David, reportedly spent at least R10 million on luxury cars alone. Their lavish spending also included high-end watches and diamond-studded mouth jewellery, making their financial trail difficult to follow.
This stark discrepancy strongly suggests that significantly more than $580,000 was stolen, casting further doubt on Ramaphosa’s official version and reinforcing scepticism about the stated origin and quantity of the cash. Arthur Fraser, the former spy boss who first brought the Phala Phala matter to light in June 2022, stated in documents provided to the police that he believed $4 million, roughly R65 million, was stolen.
4. The 44-Day Delay: Why Was the Money Left Unbanked for So Long?
According to President Ramaphosa’s own account, he was aware of the substantial cash at the farm just a day after it was delivered. He explained that his farm manager, Hendrik von Wielligh, was supposed to deposit the funds at a bank upon his return from leave. Ramaphosa himself reportedly instructed another manager, Sylvester Ndlovu, not to leave the cash in the safe at the main lodge due to concerns about staff access.
Ndlovu then took it upon himself to place the money under the couch cushions in the bedroom of the President’s private residence on the farm. The burglary occurred on 9 February 2020, a staggering 44 days after the money was brought to the farm on Christmas Day 2019. The question remains: why was such a large sum of money left unbanked and unsecured for so long, especially if concerns about staff temptation already existed?
Adding to the mystery, the Hawks informed News24 that a second break-in in June 2020 was under investigation, an incident that was also never reported to the police. Officially, nothing was taken during this second intrusion.
5. The Fate of the Buffalo and Repayment: What Happened to the Animals and Mr. Mustafa’s Money?
No public evidence has emerged to suggest that any contact was made with Hazim Mustafa after the money was left at the farm. The 20 buffalo, which supposedly necessitated a hefty sum in upkeep and veterinary bills, remained on the farm for years. Crucially, Mustafa never requested his money back, and no apparent attempt was made to resolve the financial implications of the stolen deposit. He could not be held responsible for the theft, yet was still expected to pay the remaining purchase price for the buffalo.
This profound lack of action and communication regarding both the animals and the repayment of the deposit raises significant questions about the veracity and completeness of the official version of events. As the IPID report brings renewed focus to these inconsistencies, President Ramaphosa faces mounting pressure to provide clear and comprehensive answers to the South African public.
