There was no cover-up on Phala Phala, vows Lamola and Batohi

The president and some government officials have been accused of covering up the theft of a large amount of foreign currency from Ramaphosa's private farm in Limpopo in 2020.

But authorities have denied these claims.

Lamola and Batohi briefed the media on Monday on the status update of extradition requests to and from South Africa.

"I know there is an excitement to presume that there was some kind of cover-up either by myself or anyone on this matter, but the Director General has explained that how the process works is that it will be the official who received the request, who knows in the central authority," said Lamola.

He went on: "When they have processed (the matter), they have dealt with all the administrative issues, is when a memorandum will then be routed to myself to look at it and approve and whatever that may need to be done."

READ: Lamola: Gupta brothers’ extradition request officially filed

Lamola insisted: "This matter has not yet reached that stage for a memorandum to be brought to me to sign or to do whatever, and it is the same that they are related to with regard to the NDP - they will not have also not have received that day request, because there were still issues that the central authority and the and the central authority of Namibia still had to deal with before they could bring the matter to us." 

"I did not know that there was such a request with regards to this Phala Phala matter," says Lamola.

Meanwhile, Batohi says the NPA is not involved in the Phala Phala investigation.

"The National Prosecuting Authority is not involved in the investigation, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) are conducting investigations and once they reach a point when they feel that the NPA need to be engaged, they will and then we will deal with the matter as appropriate at the time," she said.

"This matter will be dealt with like any other matter, the rule of law must prevail no matter what," said Batohi.