Major-General Wally Rhoode cleared of misconduct over Phala Phala investigation

Presidential Protection Services head Major-General Wally Rhoode has been cleared of wrongdoing by the SAPS after the conclusion of a disciplinary hearing into findings made against him by Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka two years ago.

Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia said Rhoode was subjected to a disciplinary hearing in terms of the SAPS disciplinary regulations.

“He was found not guilty of any misconduct related to the findings of the Public Protector in that he conducted an illegal investigation in relation to the robbery at the Phala Phala farm of the President, Mr M C Ramaphosa, in Limpopo in February 2020,” Cachalia said.

He also said Rhoode was still an active member of the SAPS and held the position of head of Presidential Protection Service.

Cachalia was responding to ATM parliamentary leader Vuyo Zungula, who enquired about the disciplinary action taken against Rhoode after Gcaleka found that he conducted an illegal investigation into robbery at the Phala-Phala farm in February 2020.

He would not be drawn into commenting that the censure of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report into the matter impinged on the principles of openness and undermined confidence in the IPID when taking action against rogue policemen who acted on the alleged illegal instructions of their political principals.

“Major-General Rhoode was subjected to a formal disciplinary trial as contemplated in the SAPS Disciplinary Regulations, 2016,” Cachalia said.

ATM spokesperson Zama Ntshona had not commented when his party was asked for a comment at the time of publishing.

In June 2023, Gcaleka, in her report on allegations of misconduct by Ramaphosa, found that Rhoode was not authorised to investigate the burglary on the farm.

Ramaphosa reported the burglary to Rhoode, who allegedly investigated the incident.

Gcaleka found that Rhoode had acted improperly when conducting an investigation and that he did not have the power to launch the off-the-books investigation into the burglary.

She also did not accept his version that he was conducting a threat analysis.

In her remedial action, Gcaleka instructed former police minister Bheki Cele to acknowledge the findings of maladministration and improper conduct against the SAPS, particularly regarding allegations that police officers in the Presidential Protection Services acted improperly by investigating the Phala Phala burglary.

Meanwhile, responding to a separate parliamentary question from ActionSA MP Dereleen James, Cachalia said the classification of documents was done in line with the Minimum Information Security Standards (MISS) as approved by Cabinet on December 4, 1996.

“The classification of the Phala Phala report was done in terms of clause 3.4.4 of the MISS,” he said.

The minister said the IPID report had the propensity to disrupt the effective execution of information or operational planning and/or plans as well as to seriously damage operational relations between institutions.

“In light of these, it was absolutely necessary to classify the report ‘Top Secret’. The report will remain so classified until these elements are no longer in existence,” Cachalia said.

He also said he was satisfied that the IPID report was duly classified in line with the provisions of the MISS.

“There is no further action to be taken until the grounds for classification have ceased to exist.”

James has asked the criteria applied in classifying the IPID report related to the Phala Phala farm theft matter and whether he found that the classification was done in accordance within the policy provisions.

mayibongwe.maqhina@inl.co.za