Johannesburg – The Acting Public Protector Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka on Friday released her report on investigations into alleged wrongdoing at Phala Phala by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The report cleared President Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing saying the allegations that he breached the executive ethics code were “unsubstantiated”.
Advocate Gcaleka said there was no evidence that President Ramaphosa was paid for his alleged work at Phala Phala.
On the contrary, the acting public protector said her investigations failed to find any conflict of interest regarding the President’s job and his involvement with the Phala Phala farm.
Advocate Gcaleka said: “The buffalo sale transaction between Mr. Ndlovu and Mr. Hazim took place in the absence of the President, thus indicating that he is not involved in the ordinary business decision-making, largely”.
The acting public protector said evidence revealed that the President held discussions with farm managers, notably, regarding the disposal of certain animals due to them being substandard.
“Considering the evidence in its entirety and the application of the law, there is no basis to exalt such deliberations to a degree where it can be held that there existed a real or potential conflict of interests on the part of the President regarding his duty as the Head of Cabinet and his interests in game and cattle farming at Phala Phala farm in violation of the Code,” she said.
“No evidence could be found to underpin a finding or a conclusion that the President’s comments or utterances in this regard were a continuous act to be considered or construed as active involvement in the business or paid work”.
The acting public protector said: “Accordingly, the allegation that the President improperly and in violation of the provisions of the Executive Ethics Code exposed him to any risk of a conflict between his constitutional duties and obligations and his private interests arising from or affected by his alleged paid work at Phala Phala farm, is not substantiated”.
Answering questions from journalists, the acting public protector revealed that the affidavit of the complainant Arthur Fraser included photos and videos of another farm.
The videos and photographs were not of the robbery scene at Phala Phala.
She said the images were of another neighbouring farm that had been robbed earlier.
However, Advocate Gcaleka recommended disciplinary action against Ramaphosa’s security chief Wally Rhoode regarding his lax actions on the Phala Phala farm robbery after it was reported to him.
Full report below:
