Opposition parties threaten legal action over Phala Phala report
Acting Public Protector
Kholeka Gcaleka has come under fire from opposition parties after her report
cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of wrongdoing in the Phala Phala saga.
Gcaleka made public her findings in Pretoria on Friday.
She found the president did not violate the executive ethics code.
The investigation was prompted by complaints from African Transformation Movement and the DA leader, following claims by former spy boss Arthur Fraser that the president tried to cover up the theft of millions of dollars from his Phala Phala farm in 2020.
The DA's John Steenhuisen says the party will consult its legal team.
"DA will work tirelessly to ensure that our democratic institutions are rid of any political influence to ensure the principles and accountability of the law are always upheld. We will also take this report under review because we have now two conflicting reports.
"Earlier this year an independent panel headed by a retired judge and senior advocates found to the opposite that the president did indeed have a case to answer, the very same case that the public protector now exonerated the president with."
The ATM's Zama Ntshona says the party has also rejected the findings.
"This report issued undermines the intelligence of South Africans, yet they are fully aware of the crimes committed by the president and Phala Phala. Despite the acting public protector bending backwards for the president."
This is while the National Freedom Party in KZN says it will take the report on judicial review.
READ: Gcaleka clears Ramaphosa in Phala Phala matter
Spokesperson Canaan Mdletshe says they want all the evidence to be made public.
"We want the affidavits, the statements and other information relating to this investigation by the Office of the Public Protector to be made public so the people of this country can have an opportunity to investigate and scrutinise the information on their own."
