The state intends to call 23 witnesses in the case against three suspects accused of theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.
Imanuwela David, cleaner Floriana Joseph and her brother Ndilinasho Joseph appeared in Modimolle regional court on Tuesday for a pretrial conference. The matter was postponed to May 19 2025 for trial.
The charges relate to the theft of US$580,000 (R11.2m) at Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo in 2020, sparking a major political and legal controversy.
The Joseph siblings are accused of housebreaking and theft, while David, allegedly the mastermind, is facing charges of conspiracy to commit housebreaking, two counts of housebreaking and money laundering.
David faces an additional charge of money laundering.
The theft came to light in June 2022 when the former director-general at the State Security Agency, Arthur Fraser, opened a case of kidnapping and money laundering against Ramaphosa, and Presidential Protection Services head Maj-Gen Wally Rhoode and Crime Intelligence members for allegedly concealing the break-in.
Ramaphosa said the cash was paid to his former farm manager Sylvester Ndlovu by Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa on Christmas Day in 2019 as he wanted to purchase a herd of buffalo. The president allegedly failed to report the burglary to the police but chose to report it to Rhoode instead.
Froliana and Ndilishano were granted bail of R5,000 and R10,000, respectively, in November last year.
TimesLIVE
State to call 23 witnesses in the Phala Phala theft case as it goes to trial
Charges relate to theft of R11.2m at Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo in 2020
Image: Supplied
The state intends to call 23 witnesses in the case against three suspects accused of theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.
Imanuwela David, cleaner Floriana Joseph and her brother Ndilinasho Joseph appeared in Modimolle regional court on Tuesday for a pretrial conference. The matter was postponed to May 19 2025 for trial.
The charges relate to the theft of US$580,000 (R11.2m) at Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo in 2020, sparking a major political and legal controversy.
The Joseph siblings are accused of housebreaking and theft, while David, allegedly the mastermind, is facing charges of conspiracy to commit housebreaking, two counts of housebreaking and money laundering.
David faces an additional charge of money laundering.
The theft came to light in June 2022 when the former director-general at the State Security Agency, Arthur Fraser, opened a case of kidnapping and money laundering against Ramaphosa, and Presidential Protection Services head Maj-Gen Wally Rhoode and Crime Intelligence members for allegedly concealing the break-in.
Ramaphosa said the cash was paid to his former farm manager Sylvester Ndlovu by Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa on Christmas Day in 2019 as he wanted to purchase a herd of buffalo. The president allegedly failed to report the burglary to the police but chose to report it to Rhoode instead.
Froliana and Ndilishano were granted bail of R5,000 and R10,000, respectively, in November last year.
TimesLIVE
READ MORE:
Hawks pursuing two more suspects for Phala Phala theft
Third suspect arrested in connection with Phala Phala theft
Wally Rhoode to be disciplined over ‘improper’ Phala Phala theft probe
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