The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) says the African Transformational Movement (ATM) should give a sworn assertion relating to the Phala Phala $4 million theft earlier than deciding whether or not to “fully” examine the matter.
ATM President Vuyolwethu Zungula had requested Ipid to examine allegations that police high brass knew in regards to the alleged cover-up of the February 2020 theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.
In a letter – dated 21 June – written to Ipid government director Jennifer Dikeledi Ntlatseng, Zungula mentioned claims by the Namibian Police Force (Nampol) that they met with the South African Police Service (Saps) confirmed that the highest brass had been concerned within the alleged cover-up.
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When former State Security Agency (SSA) director-general Arthur Fraser laid prison expenses towards Ramaphosa, he alleged that, amongst different issues, Presidential Protection Unit head, Wally Rhoode, entered and exited Namibia utilizing unofficial channels when Ramaphosa “sought assistance” from Namibian President Hage Geingob to apprehend the suspects behind the theft.
Based on these allegations in addition to studies by News24, Zungula mentioned “all the affected police officers should be suspended pending the investigation into their alleged complicity”.
‘Ipid mandate’
On Friday, Ipid spokesperson Lizzy Suping offered an replace on ATM’s letter, saying: “It is worth noting that the complaint from the ATM party does not fall squarely on the Ipid mandate in terms of Section 28(1) of the Ipid Act, which specifies a list of offences that can be exclusively investigated by Ipid.”
“Section 28(1)(h) provides that Ipid can investigate any offences referred to it as a result of a decision by the Executive Director, or if requested by the Minister, MEC or Secretary of Police,” she additional mentioned in a assertion.
Suping mentioned the ATM’s criticism had not been absolutely assessed by Ipid due to the restricted data contained within the criticism letter.
“The directorate has requested the creator of the letter from ATM to current himself to Ipid for an interview.
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“The request for the ATM consultant to current themselves to Ipid for an interview, kinds a part of an investigation.
“However, the interview process will assist Ipid to assess whether a full investigation is warranted on the alleged conduct of the police at the Phala Phala farm matter,” the Ipid director for communications and advertising mentioned.
She added that Ipid will then decide whether or not the case might be “fully investigated” after the ATM’s formal assertion has been obtained.
It has been widely reported that Ipid head of investigations Thuso Keefelakae despatched an e mail to Zungula confirming that “directorate has taken a decision to investigate the matter to partially look into the conduct of the police”.
Public Protector requests
Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s workplace is investigating whether or not Ramaphosa violated the Executive Members’ Ethics Code by not reporting the crime to the police after a complanit was lodged by the ATM.
The Public Protector’s report into the theft is predicted be accomplished in 30 days.
The workplace, on 7 June, despatched a listing of questions to Police Commissioner, Fannie Masemola, asking the police commissioner to present a detailed assertion explaining whether or not the alleged theft had been reported to the police.
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According to City Press, Mkhwebane additionally requested Masemola to make sure that Rhoode present an affidavit over his alleged position within the crime.
The ATM, in the meantime, says it should seek the advice of with its legal professionals “on how to compel” National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula “to do her job diligently without fear or favour”.
The occasion had requested for a Section 89 inquiry to be established over the allegations that Ramaphosa breached the Prevention of Organised Crime Act by not reporting the theft.
While Mapisa-Nqakula indicated that she was considering the ATM’s submission, the occasion has grown impatient since two weeks have previous because it wrote to the Speaker.