Cape Town – ActionSA says it will lay criminal charges against President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of misleading the public about the amount of money stolen during the 2020 burglary at his Phala Phala game farm.
The party’s move follows reports that the actual amount taken may have been far higher than initially disclosed, with police investigations allegedly estimating about R15 million, compared to the earlier figure of around R10 million.
According to The Citizen, forensic probes linked about R8.2 million in deposits to a suspect, Imanuwela David, shortly after the break-in. He is also alleged to have spent about R6.7 million on vehicles and passed on $30,000 (around R540,000) to a driver connected to the suspects. In total, investigators reportedly tied him to nearly R15 million in cash-related transactions between 2020 and 2021.
ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont confirmed that the party will open the case at the Bela Bela police station on 13 May 2026. He said the charges would include alleged breaches of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (PRECCA), as well as fraud and perjury.
“These charges will include a violation of PRECCA for deliberately not disclosing the amount of money which was stolen,” Beaumont said.
The case adds to ongoing political pressure over the Phala Phala scandal, with President Ramaphosa again rejecting calls to resign during a national address, insisting he will remain in office despite the controversy.
I therefore respectfully want to make it clear that I will not resign.
To do so would be to pre-empt a process defined by the Constitution.
To do so would be to give credence to a panel report that unfortunately has grave flaws.
To do so would be to abdicate the…
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) May 11, 2026
“I remain here and I don’t intend resigning,” the president said.
He also confirmed plans to challenge the findings of the Section 89 independent panel report following a recent ruling by the Constitutional Court of South Africa.
According to IOL, the Constitutional Court delivered key findings in the matter of Economic Freedom Fighters and Another v Speaker of the National Assembly and Others (CCT 35/24), ruling that Rule 129I of the National Assembly was inconsistent with the Constitution and therefore invalid.
Beaumont argued that South Africa’s political landscape had shifted, noting that the ANC no longer holds a parliamentary majority.
“The ANC no longer holds a majority in parliament. We will continue pursuing accountability through all available constitutional mechanisms to ensure that no one, including the president, is above the law,” he said.
Wednesday’s laying of charges is expected to be led by Beaumont, ActionSA parliamentary chief whip Lerato Ngobeni and Limpopo provincial chairperson Victor Mothemela.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
