Phala Phala Report Declassified Yet Still Hidden From the Public, Cachalia Confirms
Viable News Team 
South Africa’s long-running Phala Phala saga has taken yet another dramatic turn. Firoz Cachalia, the acting Minister of Police, has confirmed that the long-shielded IPID report into the 2020 burglary at Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm has finally been declassified but there’s a catch: the public still can’t see it.
Cachalia made the revelation in a written reply to the African Transformation Movement (ATM), confirming that on 2 February 2026 the Independent Police Investigative Directorate reviewed the grounds for secrecy and decided the “Top Secret” stamp was no longer justified.
“After considering the initial reasons for the ‘Top Secret’ classification and public interest, IPID came to a decision that the classification is no longer serving the purpose,” Cachalia wrote.
Declassified… But Not Released
However, if the public expected immediate transparency, they were in for a disappointment. Cachalia made it clear: declassification does not mean public release.
He stressed that IPID reports “are not for public consumption.” Anyone hoping to access the report must file a formal PAIA (Promotion of Access to Information Act) application a process known for being time-consuming, technical, and often unsuccessful.
Why Was the Report Classified to Begin With?
The report was originally declared “Top Secret” by police minister Senzo Mchunu, who is currently on special leave. Mchunu defended the secrecy, saying it was necessary to:
- protect the integrity of an active investigation,
- shield witnesses, and
- prevent premature exposure of implicated SAPS members.
At the centre of the IPID investigation were explosive allegations: that Ramaphosa’s VIP protection officers may have carried out a cross-border search operation in Namibia after the theft of undisclosed US dollars allegedly hidden at the president’s Limpopo game farm.
Other Reports Went Public But Not This One
While both the Public Protector and the South African Reserve Bank released their Phala Phala-related findings to the public, the IPID report remained sealed for years. No clear justification was offered for why it could not be shared a silence that fuelled political speculation and public frustration.
Now, although the report is no longer classified, it remains locked behind bureaucratic barriers.
Political Pressure Mounts
The new status of “declassified but still restricted” is expected to heighten, not calm, political tensions. Parties such as the ATM and ActionSA are already applying pressure.
ActionSA has openly called on IPID to release the report, arguing that the public has a right to know what happened during one of the most controversial presidential scandals of recent years.
With the report no longer protected by secrecy laws, the question becomes unavoidable: What is in the IPID document that government is still unwilling to show the nation?
As pressure builds, the Phala Phala saga seems far from over and the battle for transparency has only just begun.
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