The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) recently announced its decision not to prosecute President Cyril Ramaphosa or any other suspects involved in the Phala Phala case, a decision that has sparked widespread criticism.
Advocate Mukhali Ivy Thenga, the Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo, made the announcement, stating that the decision followed a detailed investigation by the Directorate for Priority Crimes Investigation (DPCI).
The investigation was initiated after a complaint filed by former intelligence head Arthur Fraser with the South African Police Service (SAPS).
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe expressed strong disapproval, calling the NPA’s decision an insult to the Section 89 Independent Panel, which had previously concluded that Ramaphosa violated the Constitution.
The panel, led by Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, retired High Court Judge Thokozile Masipa, and Advocate Mahlape Sello, had found that the president had questions to answer regarding the source of the foreign currency stolen from his farm and the transaction it was tied to.
Seepe argued that the NPA’s decision undermines the findings of legal experts and suggested that those dissatisfied with the outcome could pursue private prosecution, using the panel’s report as a basis.
He emphasized concerns that NPA officials, who are appointed by the president, may prioritize their career advancement over accountability.
The African Transformation Movement (ATM) also voiced disbelief. Party spokesperson Zama Ntshona questioned the NPA’s claim that the evidence was insufficient for a winnable case, noting that Ramaphosa himself had admitted to possessing undeclared foreign currency beyond the allowable period.
Ntshona called for the NPA to release the full report to provide clarity on how it reached its conclusion.
The case stems from a 2020 robbery at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm, where approximately $4 million, reportedly from livestock sales and hidden in a couch, was stolen.
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