ATM Calls for Impeachment Proceedings Against Cyril Ramaphosa Over Declassified Phala Phala Report

• The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has weighed in on the Independent Police Investigative Directorate's (IPID) declassified report
• IPID's report, on the investigation into the 2020 burglary at the president’s Phala Phala farm, found instances of misconduct
• ATM leader Vuyo Zungula has written to the Speaker of the National Assembly to pursue some action against the president

Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.

GAUTENG - The African Transformation Movement (ATM) wants the Speaker of the National Assembly to initiate impeachment proceedings against President Ramaphosa following an explosive Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report.

The report, initially completed in 2023 but only declassified in March 2026, detailed misconduct by senior South African Police Service officials in allegedly concealing the 2020 burglary at the President’s Phala Phala farm.

Read also

IPID releases report on Phala Phala burglary, flags two protection officers

A total of $580,000 (around R10 million at the time) in undeclared US dollars cash was stolen from the farm, but the matter was never reported. It only came to light more than two years later when Arthur Fraser opened a criminal case against President Ramaphosa.

He alleged that there were incidents of theft, money laundering, kidnapping, bribery, and concealment of the crime by the president and others.

ATM wants impeachment proceedings initiated against Ramaphosa

With the report finally being declassified and revealing misconduct by Presidential Protection Unit head, Major General Wally Rhoode, and others acting on behalf of the President, ATM leader Vuyo Zungula said it raised serious and unavoidable questions about Ramaphosa's own conduct.

Zungula noted that the findings contained in the report confirmed that senior members of the SAPS engaged in unlawful conduct.

“This includes the concealment of a crime, abuse of state resources, the undertaking of unlawful investigations, and conduct that may amount to serious criminal offences such as kidnapping, assault, torture, and bribery,” Zungula stated.

He added that the findings of a Section 89 Independent Panel Report concluded that there was prima facie evidence that the President may have committed serious violations of the Constitution and the law.

Read also

IPID welcomes SAPS action against officers linked to Emmanuel Mbense murder case

Zungula stated that both reports materially strengthened each other.

“It provides further evidentiary weight to the conclusion that what transpired was not an isolated lapse in judgment, but part of a broader pattern of conduct in which the machinery of the State appears to have been repurposed to protect private interests linked to the President,” Zungula added.

What you need to know about the Phala Phala case

• The NPA announced that it would not prosecute anyone related to the Phala Phala scandal.
• The NPA encouraged parties to make use of the review process if they were unhappy with the decision.
• President Ramaphosa was grilled in Parliament in October 2024 about the Phala Phala saga, but he maintained his innocence.
• Police Minister Senzo Mchunu confirmed that IPID’s report into Phala Phala was marked as top secret.
• ActionSA demanded transparency regarding Phala Phala and wanted access to IPID’s report.
• The MK Party wanted the report to be made public, but citizens wanted all the focus on Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations first.

Read also

Fikile Mbalula calls for calm and respect after altercation at Chris Hani's wreath-laying ceremony

IPID blames technical issues for Phala Phala report delay

Briefly News reported that IPID blamed an email issue in June 2025 as the reason why it did not release the Phala Phala report.

Senzo Mchunu noted that the report was marked as top secret by IPID, but ActionSA requested to have it made public.

South Africans were left in disbelief at the excuse conjured up by IPID as to why it couldn't respond to ActionSA's request.

Source: Briefly News