The African National Congress (ANC)’s integrity commission says that a probe into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala saga has stalled.
This, after Ramaphosa was hit with a gag order by the office of the Public Protector which is investigating the matter.
The order prevents Ramaphosa from responding to any questions asked while the chapter 9 institution is still investigating the issue.
The integrity commission lashed out following the leaked draft report on Phala Phala dealings.
The commission rejected “in the strongest terms the possibility that it has released either to the national executive committee through the secretary-general’s office or to the public any report on Phala Phala.
In the report, the ANC‘s integrity commission concluded that the Phla Phala scandal has brought the party into disrepute.
The ethics body, however, could not determine whether President Cyril Ramaphosa, those who work on the farm, Arthur Fraser or ANC members should be held responsible.
The draft report, titled “Progress report on Phala Phala matter”, says the body of elders could not get Ramaphosa to reveal details of what transpired at his Limpopo farm in February 2020, where millions in foreign currency was alleged to have been stolen, and that measures were put in place to keep the theft a secret through clandestine operations involving the police and intelligence networks.
According to the report, When Ramaphosa met the elders he told them he had been barred by the Public Protector from discussing details of the incident.
The disciplinary body said it could not make a determination on the matter until Ramaphosa had made his submissions.
This put the commission in a tight spot, making it difficult to conclude the matter and to make recommendations on sanctions against the president.
The only recommendation the progress report makes is a call for Ramaphosa to take the party and the country into his confidence. The party’s NEC is also expected to discuss the matter during its current meeting currently underway in Nasrec.
Source: News24, Daily Maverick, Eyewitness News, Times Live, image from Twitter: @SApresident2024