Days before former spy boss Arthur Fraser filed an affidavit accusing President Cyril Ramaphosa of corruption and money laundering, he met a high-profile Cape Town underworld figure and discussed the theft of an estimated $4m (about R60m) from the president’s Phala Phala game farm.
A source with intimate knowledge of the meeting said the two spoke about SA’s political landscape and that Fraser brought up the theft.
The source said the man was surprised to hear a case was being opened regarding the incident as it had been openly talked about in Cape Town underworld circles since Imanuwela David arrived in the city in 2020. David apparently spoke about receiving a tipoff from domestic staff at Phala Phala that the money had been “sewn into the couches”.
It is believed David sought assistance from prominent figures in the Cape Town underworld to protect him from those pursuing the stolen cash. A senior government insider confirmed these claims.
Two authoritative sources on the Cape Town underworld said when David arrived in the Mother City he started spending large amounts at a nightclub owned by the son of a prominent figure.
“This character started appearing on the scene and driving luxury cars, living in Camps Bay, living that life, that Instagram-type life, like this Puff Daddy kind of character.
“This character started appearing on the scene and driving luxury cars, living in Camps Bay, living that life, that Instagram-type life, like this Puff Daddy kind of character.
“He claims to be a diamond trader with connections in Namibia and Angola. Angola is another place he spoke about where he does business. I think they just robbed this money and started living the high life. That must have been early 2020,” said a source.
David tried to befriend certain people to seek protection as he was being hounded by Gauteng-based underworld figures who were trying to recoup the stolen money from him, the source added.
“He was delivering and dropping off dollars in Cape Town for payment for various items he was purchasing.”
“There was an attempt to try to recover the money from him and the authorities tried to use some heavy-handed tactics from Johannesburg-based characters. And he ran to try to get protection from other people in Cape Town. I don’t think successfully,” the source continued.
“They each took a portion of it. But his share of the money, he said, was only $800,000 (about R12m). And yeah, they were trying to get him to pay back the whole amount, which was impossible.
“They basically tried to kind of enforce it on them ... Then they kind of bought their silence and said to them they mustn’t discuss this any further and they must keep it quiet. That’s why the presidency never exposed this robbery.
“The state tried to keep it under wraps. And it was common knowledge to the people in the mix that this had happened,” the source said.
Sources believe the lifestyle David was living in Cape Town would have rapidly depleted whatever money he allegedly made from the heist. According to one, he allegedly tried to sell a new Mercedes C63 AMG to an underworld figure, but the car was “extremely filthy” and the offer was declined.
And they each took a portion of it. But his share of the money, he said, was only $800,000 (about R12m). And yeah, they were trying to get him to pay back the whole amount which was impossible.
A Cape Town businessman specialising in protective car wrappings told TimesLIVE that earlier this year David brought in his VW Golf R to be wrapped. “It was a really nice car. We did the job and he left. Several months ago, I think less than two, he was back again to have the car unwrapped. He wanted us to unwrap it because he was selling it.”
Asked for contact numbers for David, he said the number he had no longer worked. Multiple attempts to make contact with David have failed, as it appears he has switched off his cellphone.
Neither Fraser nor his lawyer Eric Mabuza responded to requests for comment.
Sources claimed security concerns for wanting to remain anonymous.
Most of David’s alleged co-conspirators in the theft, Namibians Urrbanus Lomboleni Shaumbwako, Petrus Fikeipo Muhekeni, Erkki Shikongo and Petrus Afrikaner, are said to be hiding out in Cape Town.
TimesLIVE visited Shaumbwako’s last known address in Lower Crossroads, Philippi, on Wednesday. One of his countryman, who declined to be named, said the suspect is his cousin. “We last saw him more than a year ago. He was arrested and we lost contact. We lost touch after he left Philippi. We heard that he got arrested. He owned a shop and barbershop. He could be sitting in Pollsmoor right now.”
Law-enforcement sources said Shaumbwako was arrested in October 2020 after a high-speed chase with Cape Town traffic police along Blaauwberg Road in Killarney.
According to a TimesLIVE article about the incident, he was arrested with a bag containing 12 pistols, all with their serial numbers filed off.
Cape Town traffic services spokesperson Maxine Jordaan said at the time that the driver jumped out of the vehicle and a foot-chase ensued. During the chase the man threw the bag under a minibus.
“Officers caught up with the suspect and recovered the bag,” she said.
Western Cape Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani confirmed the unit was investigating the case and that Shaumbwako was in custody. His trial is expected to start in the Cape Town regional court on July 19.
Hawks spokesperson Brig Thandi Mbambo said officers from the Serious Corruption Investigation Unit received the docket containing Fraser’s complaint last week. She said criminal charges under investigation were corruption and money laundering.
“The investigation is still at its infancy stage. Investigators will engage with all people who will be able to provide information and evidence that could assist in the investigation,” she said when asked if statements had been taken from those who found the suspects and whether the suspects had been located, arrested and charged.
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