Former crime intelligence analyst Pilasande Dotyeni is set to present his allegations against presidential protection head Major-General Wally Rhoode to parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police. Dotyeni accuses Rhoode of making false statements under oath regarding the Phala Phala farm burglary investigation. The committee, chaired by Ian Cameron, will hear Dotyeni's evidence virtually, with his presentation submitted by Monday. This hearing relates to the February 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm and the subsequent police investigation.
Dotyeni's allegations center on Rhoode's claim that he informed late Lieutenant-General Sindile Mfazi about the burglary and received instructions to conduct a preliminary inquiry. However, Dotyeni disputes this, citing Mfazi's surviving records, including his official SAPS pocketbook and personal diary, which show no reference to Rhoode's alleged report or instructions. Dotyeni argues that this discrepancy undermines the operational and legal basis for Rhoode's involvement in the investigation. He submitted an 18-page statement to support his allegations when reporting the complaint to the Rosebank police on September 7.
The allegations have raised questions about what Mfazi knew about the farm burglary before his death in 2021. Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Mfazi's death, including forensic and toxicology findings indicating that he had been poisoned. Mfazi was a senior police investigator who was probing the Phala Phala burglary and other sensitive matters at the time of his death. His death was initially attributed to Covid-19, but his body was later exhumed at the request of his family.
Dotyeni told the Daily Dispatch that it was essential to thoroughly investigate Rhoode's statements, which he believes were made under oath and relied upon by President Ramaphosa in parliament and the Constitutional Court. He stated that he possesses material evidence, including Mfazi's pocketbook and diary, which demonstrate that no reports were received from Rhoode on March 3, 2020. This, Dotyeni claims, means that the operation concerning Phala Phala was unlawful and that the president's defense relies on allegedly false statements.
The Portfolio Committee on Police is also concerned about the SAPS internal disciplinary process involving Rhoode, which resulted in a "not guilty" outcome. Committee chair Ian Cameron raised concerns about the police moving too quickly to close the disciplinary matter without properly establishing whether Rhoode had been authorized by his superior to conduct his own investigation. The committee wants to invite Rhoode for an engagement before deciding on its next steps.
The hearing is part of a broader investigation into the Phala Phala saga, which has raised questions about the handling of the burglary investigation and the involvement of senior police officials. The committee is considering engaging the impeachment committee probing the Phala Phala saga to avoid duplicating processes. Dotyeni's allegations have added a new layer of complexity to the investigation, which is expected to continue in the coming weeks.
The outcome of the hearing and the committee's subsequent actions remain to be seen. However, it is clear that Dotyeni's allegations have significant implications for the investigation into the Phala Phala burglary and the role of senior police officials in the matter. The committee's engagement with Dotyeni and Rhoode will likely shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the burglary and the subsequent investigation.
Key points
- - Dotyeni alleges that Major-General Wally Rhoode made false statements under oath regarding the Phala Phala farm burglary investigation. - The allegations center on Rhoode's claim that he informed late Lieutenant-General Sindile Mfazi about the burglary and received instructions to conduct a preliminary inquiry. - The Portfolio Committee on Police will hear Dotyeni's evidence virtually, with his presentation submitted by Monday.
