CASE OF PHALA PHALA SUSPECTS POSTPONED

Rustenburg / Bela-Bela - Imanuwela David (39) and Froliana Joseph (30) appeared before the Bela-Bela Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 7 November 2023, on the following counts: conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, housebreaking with intent to steal, and money laundering. This relates to $580,000 which was stolen at the Phala Phala farm, which belongs to President Cyril Ramaphosa. The pair were arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS) on Sunday, 5 November and Monday, 6 November respectively.

“The investigations revealed that on 1 January 2020, the accused persons conspired to commit housebreaking with intent to steal at the Phala Phala farm, and on 8 January 2020, Imanuwela with two others entered Stokkiesdraai farm, believing that it was Phala Phala farm. They broke in but nothing was stolen. The following night they located Phala Phala farm where they broke in and stole $580,000. The matter has been postponed to Friday, 10 November, for Imanuwela to arrange for legal representation and for a formal bail application,” said National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Limpopo regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi.