By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Hawks arrested a 27-year-old man in connection with the theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm after he handed himself over to authorities in Bela-Bela on Thursday.
The suspect is expected to appear in the Bela Bela Magistrate’s Court on Friday.
This week, two suspects appeared in the Bela Bela Magistrate’s Court for the theft of money at the farm in 2020.
Namibian nationals Imanuwela David and Froliana Joseph appeared in court on theft and housebreaking charges.
Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi the regional spokesperson for the NPA in Limpopo, says the suspect was arrested on Thursday.
Malabi-Dzhangi said the investigations showed that on 1 January 2020, the accused planned to break into a house with the intention of stealing something from the farm.
On 8 January, 2020, David and two other people went into the Stokkiesdraai farm, thinking it was Phala Phala’s property.
“They broke and entered, but nothing was stolen. The following night, they located the Phala Phala farm, where they broke, entered, and stole $580 000,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
The president’s farm made headlines last year after former spy boss Arthur Fraser revealed that a large amount of US dollars were stolen at the farm in February 2020.
Fraser alleged Ramaphosa attempted to cover up the theft.
Meanwhile Deputy President Paul Mashatile has urged Members of Parliament (MPs) and the public to respect the criminal justice system and investigative bodies even if they disagreed with their findings.
He said that despite some of the political parties disagreeing with the findings of the Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, on Phala Phala they must respect her office.
He also said he had full confidence in the criminal justice system and law enforcement agencies, and they do their work without fear or favour.
Mashatile, who was replying to questions in Parliament on Thursday, said the bodies that investigated Ramaphosa on Phala Phala had completed their work and it was time to accept the findings.
EFF MP Busisiwe Mkhwebane asked Mashatile about the Phala Phala report, which had been questioned by political parties.
However, Mashatile said there was no favouritism when Ramaphosa was investigated by multiple agencies over Phala Phala. Ramaphosa was probed by the Public Protector, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), and the SA Revenue Service (SARS).
“Let me put it differently, Mkhwebane; the law does not have eyes. When the law is implemented, it does not look and say, ‘This one is the president; let’s treat him differently’.
“You will recall that right from the beginning with the allegations of Phala Phala, the president himself said, ‘I subject myself to the processes of the law. Let those agencies that are being tasked to do the task, let them be allowed to do it. Let them investigate; let’s give them their space’.
There is no favouritism in the criminal justice system, whether you are president, deputy president, minister, or advocate. The law is the same for all of us, “said Mashatile.