Mkhwanazi Denies Involvement in Phala Phala Cover-Up, Alleges Pressure to Implicate Officials at Inquiry
PRETORIA – In a dramatic turn at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, former State Security Agency (SSA) Director-General, Ambassador Mahlodi Sam Mufti Mkhwanazi, took the stand on Tuesday, vehemently denying any role in a cover-up related to the 2020 Phala Phala farm robbery and alleging he was pressured to implicate high-ranking officials.
The Commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Yvonne Madlanga, is investigating whether Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane misconducted herself during her separate probe into the Phala Phala matter, which involves a robbery at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s private farm.
Mkhwanazi’s testimony centered on his knowledge of the event and his interactions with Mkhwebane’s office. He stated that his involvement was minimal and strictly within the confines of his then-role at the SSA.
“I never participated in any cover-up of the Phala Phala incident,” Mkhwanazi told the commission, as reported by SABC News. “My conscience is clear.”
He further claimed that investigators from Mkhwebane’s office attempted to coerce him into providing statements that would falsely implicate the President and other officials. According to his testimony, he refused to comply with these demands, asserting that he would not be drawn into what he perceived as a politicized agenda.
Context of the Broader Phala Phala Scandal
The Phala Phala issue first erupted in June 2022 when former State Security Director-General Arthur Fraser filed a criminal complaint against President Ramaphosa, alleging that he concealed a February 2020 burglary at his farm where millions of US dollars were stolen. Fraser accused the President of tax evasion, money laundering, and kidnapping suspects for off-the-books interrogation.
The scandal, which sparked an impeachment debate in parliament, was a central issue examined in a separate Section 89 independent panel report. The panel found that the President may have a case to answer regarding the violation of the executive ethics code. For a detailed timeline of the scandal, see this report from News24.
The Madlanga Commission’s Specific Mandate
It is crucial to distinguish this inquiry from the broader Phala Phala investigation. The Madlanga Commission is not directly reinvestigating the farm robbery itself. Instead, it is focused specifically on the conduct of then-Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane during her office’s parallel investigation.
Mkhwebane was suspended by President Ramaphosa shortly after she initiated her probe, a move her supporters claimed was politically motivated. The commission is assessing allegations that she abused her office, acted with bias, and exceeded her mandate in her handling of the Phala Phala case. Background on Mkhwebane’s tenure and suspensions can be found on Daily Maverick.
Mkhwanazi’s allegations of being pressured by her office’s investigators, if substantiated, could significantly impact the commission’s findings regarding Mkhwebane’s fitness for office at the time.
What Comes Next
The commission continues to hear testimony from other key figures involved in the matter. The outcome of this inquiry will contribute to the final chapter on Mkhwebane’s controversial term as Public Protector, which was marked by numerous court defeats and a finding by the National Assembly that she was incompetent and unfit for office. For ongoing coverage of the commission’s proceedings, follow EWN.
The proceedings are being closely watched for their implications on accountability within South Africa’s highest offices and the integrity of its chapter nine institutions.
