Cape Town – The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has reportedly said it is studying the findings of the Public Protector’s preliminary report into the Phala Phala farm scandal.
In an almost 200-page preliminary report, Acting Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka on Saturday said her investigations found that Ramaphosa did not contravene the Executive Ethics code.
Gcaleka found that there was no proof that Ramaphosa was actively involved in the running of the farm.
“The allegation that the President improperly and in violation of the provisions of the Executive Ethics Code exposed himself to any risk of a conflict between his constitutional duties and obligations and his private interests arising from or affected by his alleged paid work in Phala farm is not substantiated,” Gcaleka said in the report.
In the assessment of the evidence, the Public Protector’s office said most of the complaints before it were based on the criminal complaint by former spy-boss Arthur Fraser, who first blew the lid on the scandal in June 2022, the report said.
ALSO READ | Phala Phala saga: Public protector clears Ramaphosa
According to Eye Witness News, ATM President,Vuyo Zungula said they will be guided by their legal team on the way forward.
Zungula lodged the complaint with the Public Protector in June last year, where he accused Ramaphosa of violating his oath of office and the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, the report said.
Zungula said he will be responding to the Public Protector in writing.
Meanwhile, Democratic Alliance (DA) leader John Steenhuisen said he is disappointed with the findings.
“There has been a misunderstanding clearly of our complaint and there is also a number of anomalies and contradictions within the report and we are concerned obviously with this and we will put those as the process dictates in writing to the Public Protector within the 10-day period provided and hope that these will be rectified and captured in the final report,” said Steenhuisen
The Democratic Alliance says it will write to the Public Protector following the release of the preliminary report into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm. DA Leader John Steenhuisen elaborates.
Watch: https://t.co/Q8Mt2cu4Io#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/YgG4HtKDqP
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) March 11, 2023
Fraser alleged that Ramaphosa had concealed the theft of several million dollars from his farm in 2020.
He accused the president of having the burglars kidnapped and bribed into silence instead of reporting the matter to the authorities.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Getty Images
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Betha Madhomu
