Ipid now probes Farmgate ‘cover-up’
|Published
Cape Town - Confirmation by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) that it would investigate the conduct of police officers allegedly involved in the “cover-up” of the million-dollar theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm is long overdue.
This sentiment was expressed by political party the African Transformation Movement (ATM) which had approached Ipid calling for the probe, stating that there was prima facie evidence that there was a “concealment of crime and corruption in the police force”.
Ipid said in a statement on Tuesday: “Ipid will probe the alleged conduct of the police officers in terms of the SAPS regulation while the Hawks are investigating the criminal element by the SAPS officials, which includes, among others, defeating the ends of justice and kidnapping.
“Ipid will pronounce on the outcome when the investigation is complete. The ATM party has also been made aware of the decision taken by Ipid.”
ATM president Vuyo Zungula said it had been weeks since they had met with the investigating authority and they had still not received a case number.
“It is long overdue. For them to communicate with the public almost four/five weeks later... Up until today we have not received a case number and details for an investigator who we can check in with on a weekly basis. It shows the disregard they have for our institution.
“We do have locus standi, we are members of Parliament, we are not just people they are doing a favour. Our sole responsibility is to act in the public interest. The way Ipid is acting is not giving us confidence,” he said.
He added that the allegations were serious and if the president was not held to account by authorities, “it will be very difficult to encourage people to abide by the law”.
Former State Security Agency head Arthur Fraser accused Ramaphosa of money laundering and kidnapping and opened a criminal case against the president in June.
The charges relate to Ramaphosa failing to report a case of theft at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in 2020.
Political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe said Phala Phala continued to hog the headlines because “there is something rotten about it”.
“If the president was as clean as he claims, he would not hide behind due process. As a matter of fact, the whole claim of due process is an excuse to buy time with the intention of cleaning the mess and removing evidence that may implicate the president.
“The mainstream media has exposed its hypocrisy. Had it been someone else, the usual suspects would be on the rooftops calling for accountability.
“The question not asked by everyone, including the Hawks and Ipid, is where was due process in 2020?
“There is an attempt not to grill the president on the fact that he is moonlighting as a farmer. This is a glaring violation of the Constitution. The media houses know that, parliamentarians know that, so-called civil society knows, all of them are however trying their level best to divert attention from this fact. Truth has somehow become inconvenient for all of them,” Seepe said.
Cape Times