By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The three accused in the theft of millions of foreign currency at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm appeared in the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo.
The three face charges of housebreaking, theft and conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal. They reportedly stole $580 000 at the President’s farm in February 2020.
Siblings Floriana and Ndilinasho Joseph have each been released on R5000 and R10 000 bail respectively.
Floriana worked at the farm as a domestic worker at the time of the theft.
Alleged mastermind, Imanuwela David, has been denied bail. The court found that he was a flight risk. Police have been unable to verify his residential address.
During the proceedings on Friday, state prosecutor Nkhetheni Munyai asked for a postponement to finalise outstanding investigations, much to the displeasure of the defence.
The state is seeking to obtain additional information from cellphone service providers as well as video footage, and financial statements.
The defence asked that the postponement be marked final for the purpose of investigations.
The prosecutor proposed the date of 26 April, which was granted by Magistrate Predeshni Poonan.
The matter is expected to be referred for trial soon.
Limpopo spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said the matter was postponed to April.
“The accused in the Phala Phala matter has been postponed to April 26 2024 for further investigations. The State requested postponement to finalise outstanding investigations which involves assistance of the third parties like cellphones records and video footage,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
Without giving additional details, the NPA on Friday revealed that it will be seeking the extradition of two more suspects from neighbouring Namibia.
“We will request extradition from Namibia in order to get two more suspects,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
She said, the investigations have revealed that from January 1, 2020, the accused people conspired to commit housebreaking with the intent to steal at the Phala Phala farm.
“On January 8, 2020, Imanuwela David and two others entered Stokkiesdraai farm believing that it was Phala Phala farm. They broke in and entered but nothing was stolen.”
“The following night, they located the Phala Phala farm, where they broke, entered, and stole $580,000.”
The Phala Phala theft came to light when former State Security Agency (SSA) boss, Arthur Fraser, opened a case of kidnapping and money laundering against Ramaphosa, the head of the presidential protection services, Wally Rhoode in June 2022.
Fraser accused Rhoode and the president’s advisor, Bejani Chauke, of attempting to conceal the incident.