ActionSA files application to obtain IPID's report on Phala Phala

JOHANNESBURG -President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala scandal is far from over, with ActionSA now filing an application to obtain police watchdog Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID)'s report on the matter.

The findings of IPID's probe on the theft of foreign currency at Ramaphosa's farm have been classified as top secret. 

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu previously told Parliament the report would not be made public unless formally declassified. 

IPID was roped in to investigate the conduct of Ramaphosa's VIP protection officers, who allegedly travelled to Namibia to track down the perpetrators and recover the stolen money. 

READ: IPID report into Phala Phala saga top secret, won't be made public - Mchunu

ActionSA believes that invoking the Promotion of Access to Information Act could enable IPID's disclosure of the guarded report on the Phala Phala scandal. 

The party's Michael Beaumont says there is now a legal and constitutional basis to justify classifying the report as top secret. 
 
"Section 3(4)(4) of the minimum information security standards cabinet policy is explicit that only matters meeting the following criteria may be classified as top secret: 1. can result in the declaration of war; 2. can lead to the discontinuation of diplomatic relations between states; 3. can seriously damage operational relations between institutions; 4. can disrupt the effective execution of information operational planning and/or plans."

While Mchunu previously used this policy to justify the classification, Beaumont said it seems government is misinterpreting legislation. 

He said filing the application to obtain the Phala Phala report is an attempt to ensure transparency in the handling of the president's scandal.