We Demands Answers After Recent Phala Phala Developments

ActionSA notes with gross concern developing reports that at least R15 million, not R10 million, is purported to have been stolen from President Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm. This latest total directly contradicts the official declaration that around USD580,000 (R8.75 million at the time of the burglary) had been stolen.

As the Phala Phala saga develops, it becomes clearer daily that the South African people have only been fed partial truths. At every step of the way, institution after institution has failed to hold the President to account. How else does one explain the impeachment committee disregarding the Section 89 report into Phala Phala, and why else would IPID spend a year hiding its Phala Phala report which implicates senior members of the Presidential Protection Unit?

The narrative is unravelling, and an empowered opposition – led by the likes of ActionSA – is finally doing what the ANC majority government of the past was incapable and unwilling to do.

Last week’s victory in the Constitutional Court, and the release of IPID’s Phala Phala report in April, has made the President’s position untenable. A newly constituted parliament, without an ANC majority, now has the chance to ensure accountability from a President and inner-circle which has avoided it at all costs.

ActionSA looks forward to taking its seat at a newly constituted impeachment committee. We will hold this President’s feet to the fire with the same fervour as we did in the ad-hoc committee set up to look into the network of corruption in our criminal justice system.

Questions now also arise for partners in the GNU. Will the official-opposition-turned-grand-coalition-partner change its position on removing a President they had voted into office, or will they give up the comforts of luxury hotels and German sedans in the interest of ordinary South Africans? 

Our position is not ambivalent. We will hold this President to account.

A new beachhead has emerged on which to fight for accountability on Phala Phala. We look forward to taking forward our position as an uncompromised voice in the fight for ultimate accountability.

ActionSA Strategic Focus: Targeting the “non-voter” and disillusioned middle class.