Phala Phala: IPID recommends disciplinary action against one of Ramaphosa’s senior protectors

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has recommended disciplinary action be taken against one of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s senior protectors.

This is in connection with running an off-the-books mission to recoup the stolen Phala Phala United States (US) dollars.

IPID has finally declassified its report looking into the conduct of Presidential Protection Service Unit members in relation to the burglary at the president’s farm in 2020.

ActionSA and the African Transformation Movement (ATM) applied to have it released to them via a
Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) application after Police Minister Senzo Mchunu said last year it would remain classified.

The report makes damning findings against Major General Wally Rhoode, the head of the Presidential Protection Service Unit.

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According to the IPID report, Ramaphosa informed Rhoode in 2020 about a break-in at his Phala Phala farm and the subsequent theft of $580,000 in cash.

But a case number for the matter would only be registered with the police two years later, after the matter was exposed publicly by the former State Security Agency director-general, Arthur Fraser.

The IPID report shows that in 2020, Rhoode ran an off-the-books mission to recoup the president’s money.

This included interviewing suspects at the Limpopo-based farm, chasing leads in Cape Town and even travelling to Namibia.

The report said Rhoode used police resources for his rogue mission, but in official records, he disguised the purpose of the trips as official work for the president.

In 2025, acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said Rhoode was subjected to an internal disciplinary process regarding this matter and was found not guilty.

ACTIONSA WANTS MEASURES TAKEN AGAINST ACCUSED

ActionSA wants measures taken against officials accused of running the off-the-book mission to try and recoup the money stolen from Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm.

The now-declassified report by IPID implicates senior officials within the Presidential Protection Unit in the running of an off-the-books mission to try and find the money.

The report, which was completed in 2023, has been published by ActionSA, who have been pushing for it to be declassified.

The IPID report places Rhoode at the centre of this off-the-books mission.

Rhoode was also joined by Constable Hulani Rekhoto and Ramaphosa’s political advisor, Bejani Chauke, in his exploits.

The report said in 2020, the three used official government resources to interview suspects in Limpopo, run surveillance on the alleged burglary mastermind in Cape Town and even travel to Namibia to hold off-the-record meetings with government officials there.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont said disciplinary measures must be taken against all three.

“ActionSA’s parliamentary team is writing to the portfolio committees on the Presidency and on police to institute an urgent inquiry into the failure to comply with the recommendations of the IPID report, as well as the apparent abuse of executive authority.”

The report shows Rhoode refused to answer any questions from IPID investigators, but despite that, he was cleared of any wrongdoing.