By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The man accused of being the mastermind behind the February 2020 theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Limpopo has appeared in the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court for bail.
Imanuwela David was remanded in custody last month after his attorney needed more time to be briefed on the matter.
Two other suspects linked to a burglary, Froliana Joseph and her brother Ndilinasho David Joseph, were released on R5 000 and R10 000 bail respectively last month.
David and Froliana were arrested last month. 27-year-old Ndilinasho, a former employee at the game farm, handed himself over to police.
The investigating officer in the case – Ludi Schnelle – says investigations have shown that David deposited some of the stolen money into his own bank account and that of his friends and family.
Schnelle added that there’s another player in this matter, David’s ex-girlfriend Penelope Mongalo.
He says the Mercedes Benz registered in David’s name is currently in her possession and the Cape Town apartment she stays in was paid in part by the stolen funds.
During his testimony, David said he had no assets except a TV and the shack he stays in.
David’s bail application was heard by magistrate Predeshni Ponnan on Wednesday, and the matter is set to continue on Thursday.
The trio are accused of stealing $580 000 (about R10.6 million at the time) from Ramaphosa’s game farm in February 2020.
The theft came to light when former State Security Agency boss, Arthur Fraser, opened a case of kidnapping and money laundering against Ramaphosa, the head of the Presidential Protection Services Major-General Wally Rhoode, and Crime Intelligence.
They were accused of concealing the robbery.
The former spy boss claimed the suspects who broke into the president’s property were subsequently kidnapped, interrogated, and paid off to keep silent.
The three accused are charged with housebreaking and the theft. David faces an additional charge of money laundering.