ActionSA Demands Reopening of Phala Phala Probe Following Release of Explosive IPID Investigation Findings

ActionSA petitions the Public Protector to reopen the Phala Phala robbery case, citing new IPID evidence of unauthorized state resource use by presidency officials.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 6:08 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EWN

New Evidence Sparks Demands for Investigative Expansion

ActionSA has written to the Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, urging an immediate resumption of the Phala Phala farm robbery inquiry. This move follows the unsealing of a report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate, which the party spent over a year fighting to make public through access to information applications. ActionSA National Chairperson Michael Beaumont stated that while the original Public Protector report focused largely on the President’s Protection Unit, the new evidence necessitates a broader examination of the entire presidency.

Allegations of Unauthorized Cross Border Missions

The declassified findings highlight the role of Dr. Bejani Chauke, the President’s Envoy for Africa and former political advisor. According to the report, Chauke traveled with members of the Presidential Protection Unit to Namibia in June 2020 using South African Police Service VIP resources without proper authorization. ActionSA contends that this mission, which coincided with the arrest of a primary suspect in Namibia, points to a coordinated effort within the presidency to manage the fallout of the robbery outside of traditional legal channels.

Contradictions in Disciplinary Actions and Accountability

The party’s demand for a fresh probe is bolstered by discrepancies regarding the accountability of senior police officials. While the Independent Police Investigative Directorate recommended disciplinary action against Major General Wally Rhoode and other officers for breaching police regulations, Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia informed Parliament last year that they had been cleared of misconduct. ActionSA argues that these internal clearances, coupled with the new evidence of administrative overreach, suggest a systemic failure to hold high ranking individuals accountable.