The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party released a media statement on 5 March, that insists on the immediate declassification of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report concerning the Phala Phala scandal. In a strong statement, the party criticized Police Minister Senzo Mchunu for categorizing the report as “top secret,” arguing that this action undermines democracy and seeks to protect President Cyril Ramaphosa from accountability.
“The classified report must be declassified immediately and made accessible to the public. South Africans have the right to know the truth,” said the MK Party.
The MK Party contends that the report’s classification is part of a larger attempt to conceal alleged misconduct involving the President and high-ranking police officials. They assert that following a theft at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in 2020, state resources were improperly utilized to track and recover stolen funds, which went unreported to officials.
“Instead of upholding the law, General Wally Rhoode and his team is used police uniforms, state intelligence capabilities, and taxpayer-funded security structures to conduct an unlawful and clandestine operation, all to protect Ramaphosa’s private business interests,” the statement read.
The party believes that the IPID report includes vital information regarding the misuse of state resources and that its classification is a strategic move to eliminate public examination.
The MK Party claims that Minister Mchunu’s actions are driven by his political loyalty to President Ramaphosa, not by national security concerns.
“Mchunu was a key campaigner for Ramaphosa’s CR17 faction and was rewarded with the ministerial position.Now, he is paying back that favor by ensuring that damning evidence never sees the lights of day,” the party alleged.
Furthermore, the statement alleged that Ramaphosa has manipulated state institutions such as the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), and the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to avoid accountability in the Phala Phala scandal.
The MK Party has issued a strong response to recent allegations, demanding accountability and transparency from government officials.
The party has outlined four key demands, calling for immediate action on the removal of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, accusing him of obstructing justice. Full declassification of the IPID report, allowing public scrutiny of its findings. A formal investigation into Mchunu’s conduct, particularly regarding his role in the CR17 campaign. Criminal charges against those involved in the alleged misuse of state resources in the Phala Phala cover-up.
The party also calls for structural changes to ensure IPID’s independence, arguing that it should not report to the Minister of Police but to Parliament instead, ensuring genuine oversight.
While President Ramaphosa has not commented on the MK Party’s allegations, Minister Mchunu has defended the classification decision, citing compliance with the Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS) and that the report contains sensitive security information that cannot be disclosed.
“The decision to classify the IPID report was based on national Security considerations, not political interests,” Mchunu said in a press briefing.
Meanwhile, opposition groups, including the African Transformation Movement (ATM), have joined the MK Party’s calls for transparency. The ATM has formally requested the declassification of the report, asserting that South Africans have the right to know if law enforcement was misused for political protection.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have also criticized Mchunu, not only for his involvement in the Phala Phala case but for other unrelated misconduct allegations. The EFF has characterized him as “morally irresponsible” and demanded his removal.
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As the pressure grows, political analysts believe the controversy over the IPID report could have significant repercussions for Ramaphosa’s leadership and for the integrity of South Africa’s law enforcement agencies. It remains unclear if the government will respond to calls for declassification.
For now, the MK Party is determined to pursue legal options to compel the report’s release, cautioning that “South Africa cannot be governed by secrecy, deception, and political favors.”
