'NO PHALA PHALA PRESSURE'

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says there is no political pressure on him after the Phala Phala report was declared Top Secret. 

The Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) report, which was completed in October 2023, allegedly contains information about police behaviour during the Phala Phala farm scandal involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.

Mchunu emphasised that the report's classification as top secret was done to prevent interference with ongoing investigations. 

He said: “There may be a perception that there is a cover-up, but not after we explain ourselves. If IPID were to release their report only to disturb criminal investigations, apart from other aspects, because other aspects are to protect witnesses who were involved in the investigation.”

The minister also denied there was any political pressure on him to suppress the report. 

He added: “I only became a minister in 2024 in July. That report had already been classified, so therefore, I can't be under pressure from anyone on a report that was completed long before I came in.”