File
There has been strong reaction from some political parties to the decision by the National Prosecuting Authority not to take any action in the Phala Phala matter involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The NPA director in Limpopo, advocate Mukhali Thenga, announced the decision on Thursday, saying after an extensive investigation into there was no prospect of a successful prosecution based on the evidence in the docket.
The case against President Ramaphosa and his head of security, Major-General Wally Roode by former spy boss, Arthur Fraser who accused the President of money laundering and corruption following a burglary at his farm in Bela Bela in 2020.
The EFF said it was dismayed, but not surprised.
National spokesperson, Leigh-Anne Mathys, said the refusal by the NPA to prosecute these crimes is a continuation of a pattern by key State institutions to shield Ramaphosa from accounting for his many crimes.
"It is akin to how State resources were used to shield and protect former President Jacob Zuma from accounting at the height of his power as president.
"This is the core of State capture, the use of resources of the State for the advancement of the interests of individuals, to the extent that the basic tenets of the law are violated, time and again, to protect the politically powered," she said.
Build One South Africa (BOSA) said it noted the NPA's decision with surprise.
"We are of the view that such a bold decision requires absolute transparency.
"As such, BOSA will today write to the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Adv Shamila Batohi, requesting the full record of decision in this matter," said national spokesperson, Roger Solomons.
He said the rationale behind this decision requires "public ventilation" so as to satisfy citizens that it was taken in good faith and sound judgment was applied.
"BOSA has a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and wrongdoing by those in public office. We will continue to push for greater urgency in apprehending and charging those who abuse their position for personal gain," he added.
