PRESIDENT MUM ON PHALA PHALA LEAKED LETTER

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s office has said it will not be commenting on allegations made in a leaked letter purported to have been written by former spy boss Arthur Fraser which was submitted to Parliament’s Section 89 Independent Panel to probe the Phala Phala farm issue.

The letter, dated June 23, was submitted to the panel by UDM party leader Bantu Holomisa and addressed to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the Hawks.

One of the allegations in the letter was that one of the President’s closest advisers, Bejani Chauke, illegally flew millions of dollars into South Africa from the Middle East and other countries.

Yesterday TimesLive reported that Chauke had denied the allegations in a written response, stating that it was part of a disinformation campaign before the ANC’s elective conference in December. He also questioned the authenticity of the letter, further stating that he had never been in Qatar – one of the claims.

Another allegation in the letter was made about SAPS presidential protection head, Major-General Wally Rhoode, claiming he helped Chauke hide foreign currency in a couch which was later transported to Phala Phala.

Reached for comment, Rhoode would only say: “Sorry but I can’t speak to the media.”

Calls to Fraser’s phone were met with the message: “The subscriber you have dialled is not available.”

Asked if he had received any reaction after publishing the letter on the UDM website, Holomisa said: “I don’t think there is a need for anyone to react to me regarding my submission to the panel. If they are interested they should direct their questions to the panel.”

Answering questions during a media briefing on the president’s activities on Tuesday, his spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the issue was still under investigation by law enforcement agencies and anyone with evidence should direct it to them for investigation.

Magwenya said: “From the president’s side, it is to continue co-operating with the investigations, as he has stated, so I am not going to comment on that document, suffice to say the investigation is under way.”

He said the Section 89 Independent Panel had invited evidence from a number of people and that Ramaphosa would make his submission only after that evidence had been received.

Asked whether Rhoode had been suspended, Magwenya said the presidency would not be commenting.

National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula appointed the panel of three in September, after receiving the names of 17 nominees recommended by political parties.

They are former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court Judge Sandile Ngcobo, as panel chairperson, former Judge of the Gauteng Division of the High Court, Judge Thokozile Masipa, and respected senior counsel Mahlape Sello, who recently served on the Judicial Commission on State Capture.