Ramaphosa's security chief dined with Namibian Phala Phala suspects - but pursued no charges

The three suspects in the recently launched Phala Phala prosecution were identified – and two questioned – by South African president Cyril Ramaphosa's security head within weeks of the 2020 break-in, but the president's protection team did nothing to ensure they were charged.

In an interview with the office of the public protector, Presidential Protection Service (PPS) head Major-General Wally Rhoode insisted he was not "investigating" the Phala Phala break-in when he interviewed one of the farm's domestic workers, Froliana Joseph, and her brother, Ndilinasho ‘David’ Joseph, 30 days after the 9 February 2020 burglary of at least US$580 000 (about N$10.6 million).

Rather, Rhoode said, he was "enquiring" about the break-in.

Neither he nor anyone else from the PPS or Phala Phala ever laid charges in relation to the theft, which Ramaphosa claims was a security deposit for 20 substandard buffalos - meaning the probe he and his team carried out was effectively off the books.

Transcripts and statements filed in response to a court challenge against the Public Protector South Africa's (PPSA) Phala Phala report - which cleared Ramaphosa, but nailed his presidential protectors - reveal how police top brass insisted they only heard about the burglary after ex-spy boss Arthur Fraser laid charges related to it against the president last year.

It was these charges that led to Froliana and Ndilinasho being arrested and charged over the break-in earlier this month, alongside Namibian-born Imanuwela David.

Milked for info

According to a PPSA interview with Sergeant Hlulani Rekhoto, who said he had acted as a translator for Rhoode when he interviewed the siblings on 3 and 4 March 2020, Ndilinasho confessed to milking his sister for information about the US dollars she said she found in a sofa in Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farmhouse so he could supply that information to would-be burglars.

He had also asked her about the security camera set-up at the farm, but denied that she had any clue why he was making such enquiries.

Ndilinasho then named all the other suspects he said had been involved in the break-in, including David.

According to Rekhoto, Ndilinasho complained bitterly that he had only received R30 000 for his troubles from the burglars - and repeatedly offered to provide the authorities with information about the suspects, who he claimed were "spending the money in Cape Town".

Rekhoto told the PPSA he had relayed this information to Rhoode, who he said had asked him if the alleged suspects in the Phala Phala burglary were "killers" and/or part of an organised crime syndicate.

Recounting what he said Rhoode had told him to ask Ndilinso, Rekhoto stated: “Are they a syndicate of organised crime, you know, because he was like ‘I need to know if they are killers’. Or what [he wanted] to understand [is], was that the reason for them to go to Phala Phala? Was it because of money? Or it is something that’s got to do with the president's life? 'I need to know if there is an imminent threat of some sort. Ask him if he knows something'...”

Made his blood boil

While Rekhoto said Rhoode had sent him to Cape Town within days of the interviews with the Joseph siblings, he insisted this was solely for him to confirm that Imizamo Yethu in Hout Bay - where Ndilinasho claimed the suspects liked to ‘hang out’ - was, in fact, a real place.

He is recorded as laughing at the suggestion Rhoode or any of his officials had kidnapped or tortured any of the suspects, as claimed by Fraser.

In his interview with the PPSA, Rhoode vehemently denied he tortured Floriana and Ndilinasho, saying it made his "blood boil" as he experienced torture himself during apartheid.

He added that he shared a meal with them.

"They ate with me around a table," Rhoode said. "So, how would I torture someone?"

He also denied they were kidnapped or bribed to keep quiet - as claimed by Fraser.

"No, seriously. I met the people for the first time, where must I get the money?"

In a 4 November 2020 interview, which seems to have failed to convince then-acting public protector Kholeka Gcaleka, Rhoode confirmed he had questioned Floriana and later her brother - but denied that this was part of an investigation into the Phala Phala burglary.