Millions stolen from the President's farm

In February 2020, $580,000 hidden inside a couch was stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo. The cash is now worth more than nine million rands.

Two convicted, one acquitted after six years

On Monday, two November twenty twenty-six, the Modimolle Magistrates' Court found Imanuwela David and Floriana Joseph guilty of conspiracy to commit housebreaking and theft. Ndilinasho Joseph was acquitted.

How the theft allegedly happened

The State alleged that Floriana Joseph discovered the money while working as a cleaner at Phala Phala and alerted her brother Ndilinasho. Imanuwela David, who knew both, was accused of masterminding the burglary.

David's suspicious travel and spending

The State showed David travelled twice to Phala Phala's vicinity before the February 2020 break-in. After the theft, he spent more than five million rands on luxury vehicles using US dollars.

Lavish purchases after the theft

David spent two hundred fifty thousand rands on custom-made dental grills, seventy thousand rands to add diamonds to his Rolex watch, and one million rands on a property in Rustenburg.

The magistrate's key question

Magistrate Peter Manthata focused on the source of David's US dollars. David used public transport before the theft but accumulated millions afterwards, buying a Mercedes-Benz worth five hundred thousand rands for his girlfriend.

David's defence: legitimate business income

David's lawyer Koena Matlala argued he had begun receiving large sums before the Phala Phala break-in through importing and exporting cars and work with his uncle's construction company.

The magistrate rejects David's explanation

Manthata disagreed with David's claim that importing and exporting were unaffected during Covid-19. He noted David received millions during lockdown but offered no credible explanation for the money's origin.

“I disagree with him on this issue”

Investigation was poorly conducted

Magistrate Manthata criticised the probe, saying there were no fingerprints or usable video footage showing who broke in. He called this unacceptable for the house of the country's first citizen.

“This is a clear indication that the investigations of this case were poorly done”

Criminal case opened two years late

The theft occurred in February 2020, but the criminal case was not opened until two years later. Manthata said this delay was unsurprising given the investigation's poor quality.

Sentencing hearing set for next week

The case was postponed to Friday, thirteen November twenty twenty-six for pre-sentence proceedings for Imanuwela David and Floriana Joseph. Ndilinasho Joseph remains acquitted of all charges.