ActionSA has taken the decision to file an internal appeal, in line with the requirements of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), “to ensure that the Reserve Bank provides access to the Phala Phala report” linking President Cyril Ramaphosa’s private business activities.
The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) finalised its investigation into the Phala Phala farm scandal on 14 August 2023.
“From the outset, we have contended that the Reserve Bank’s report was most likely a whitewash as it was an attempt to protect the President. We believe that if indeed there is nothing to hide, the SARB Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, would’ve honoured our PAIA application,” said ActionSA.
SARB had stated that due to legislative requirements and constraints which apply to it, the Phala Phala report will be handled as a private internal matter and will not be made available to the public.
According to ActionSA, the Reserve Bank failed to respond to its application in terms of the PAIA within the legislatively mandated 30 days to gain access to the Phala Phala report into whether President Cyril Ramaphosa’s failure to disclose foreign currency stolen at his farm in 2020, was indeed unlawful.
The initial investigation was launched on the back of allegations made by Mr. Arthur Fraser, in June 2022, and the subsequent receipt by the SARB of complaints from several political parties.
Should the appeal by ActionSA be denied, the Party said that it will be left with no option but to approach the High Court, “seeking an order compelling the SARB to furnish us with the report.”
“Furthermore, once we have had sight of the report and if our suspicions are correct, that the report is indeed a whitewash, we will take the report on judicial review,” ActionSA added.
