By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Parliament’s joint standing committee on intelligence has been asked to investigate the possible involvement of Deputy State Security Minister Zizi Kodwa in the Phala Phala farm matter.
The committee will also investigate allegations that secret crime intelligence funds were used to covertly investigate the robbery that took place at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in February 2020.
This is contained in a letter from National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to JSCI chairperson Jerome Maake last Friday. The JSCI is constitutionally mandated to conduct oversight on the affairs and conduct of the country’s intelligence structures.
The allegation against Kodwa is that he knew about the robbery but kept it secret “rather than reporting it to appropriate authorities”.
The second allegation against Kodwa pertains to the alleged use of a secret fund to guard Ramaphosa’s farm.
Former spy boss Arthur Fraser alleged in June that at least $4m (about R65m) was stolen from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in February 2020.
He further alleged that Ramaphosa failed to report this robbery and instead unleashed Major-General Wally Rhoode to investigate and cover it up by, among others, interrogating and paying off the alleged robbers.
Fraser’s allegations had raised speculation that Ramaphosa may have breached South Africa’s foreign currency and tax laws.
Ramaphosa has refused to answer any questions about the incident, including those posed to him by lawmakers, though he has submitted responses to the nation’s graft ombudsman that haven’t been made public.
It has since emerged that the money was the proceeds from the sale of a buffalo to an unidentified buyer from Dubai and the cash had been stored in a cupboard.
It is also reported that it was far less than the amount that had been previously speculated to have been stolen.
Ramaphosa is being investigated by several law enforcement agencies, including the Hawks, as well as the public protector.