Staff Writer
The Namibian-born Imanuwela David allegedly opened a kidnapping and torture case against President Cyril Ramaphosa’s head of protection Wally Rhoode in 2020.
David is said to be the mastermind behind the theft of US$8 million from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Limpopo farm in February 2020.
The Sunday Independent said that David and Ramaphosa’s domestic worker, Floriana Joseph’s mother reported the matter at the Bela-Bela police station.
Joseph, a sister to David, is the domestic worker who is said to have discovered the money hidden in furniture at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in the Limpopo province.
According to the Sunday Independent, the former national police commissioner Khehla Sitole and three other officers said Rhoode lied about the events around the Phala Phala theft.
Quoting police sources, the paper said the case record has disappeared from the police system, despite the evidence presented by a photo in which Rhoode had David’s hands tied behind his back while being interrogated.
The police sources told the paper that Rhoode did not say everything when he responded to the Public Protector’s questions regarding the theft at Ramaphosa’s farm.
“Wally (Rhoode) lies with impunity. How can you claim that someone whose hands you have tied behind their back volunteered to be interviewed?” the Sunday Independent quoted another police general, who asked not to be named.
Rhoode is said to have blamed Lieutenant-General Sindile Mfazi, who is late, for failing to investigate the Phala Phala robbery.
“I assumed that General Mfazi, as part of his full-scale investigation, would follow the prescribed process,” Rhoode allegedly told the Public Protector.
Sitole said Rhoode blamed Mfazi for serving himself, adding that Rhoode did not report to Mfazi.
“I can confirm to you that while I was a national police commissioner, Mfazi and I were never made aware of any security breach or robbery at the president’s farm.
“It can’t be true that the farm robbery was brought to General Mfazi’s attention, and there’s no way that Rhoode could have reported a serious matter like a robbery at the president’s residence to my junior and not tell me, his direct commander,” Sitole told the Sunday Independent.
The former police general added that Rhoode was supposed to have reported the matter of such nature in writing.
“There is no such report in the police system because the matter was never reported to Mfazi or myself,” Sitole said.
Mfazi was said to have died of Covid-19 this year, but his family suspected foul play and have asked for an exhumation and an autopsy.
The Sunday Independent says police spokesperson Colonel Athlenda Mathe confirmed an ongoing investigation into Mfazi’s death after tests found carbon monoxide in his blood.
Sitole said when he authorised Rhoode to use state resources, he was permitting him to drive the vehicle only when Ramaphosa was a passenger.
“When I authorised a trip for protection duties, it simply means that Rhoode is allowed to drive that car when the president is inside it. He isn’t allowed to drive around with the president’s envoy. I think fraud was committed on this trip,” said Sitole.
The Sunday Independent also said Rhoode lied about meeting the Namibian police inspector-general Sebastian Ndeitunga at no-man’s land on 25 June 2020. Bejani Chauke accompanied Rhoode.
Ndeitunga, however, said the meeting was on 19 June 2020.
