Two convicted in Phala Phala farm theft that haunted Ramaphosa presidency

More than four years after US dollars were stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm, the Modimolle Regional Court has finally secured convictions in the case that triggered a political firestorm and nearly ended his presidency.

On Monday, Magistrate Peter Manthata convicted two of the three accused in the matter of S v Imanuwela David and Others, relating to the theft of US$580,000 from the President's Limpopo game farm in February 2020.

Imanuwela David, Accused 1, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft at Phala Phala farm, and money laundering.

Froliana Joseph, Accused 2, a former domestic worker at the farm, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal.

The pair were discharged and found not guilty on a separate charge relating to housebreaking with intent to steal at Stokkiedraai farm.

Ndilinasho Joseph, Accused 3, was acquitted on all charges.

The judgment, delivered on Monday, comes after a trial marked by circumstantial evidence, delayed reporting, and extraordinary revelations about how the stolen dollars were spent.

The court noted that there was no direct evidence identifying the accused as the persons who stole the US dollars and that the State's case was based largely on circumstantial evidence.

"The court also remarked on shortcomings in the investigation and noted that the criminal case was opened approximately two years after the incident," Magistrate Manthata said.

Despite the shortcomings, the court found the circumstantial evidence sufficient to convict.

Central to the conviction was the sudden, lavish spending spree by Imanuwela David shortly after the February 2020 burglary.

"The evidence showed that shortly after the burglary, Accused 1 acquired several assets, including a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C200 for his girlfriend, two Mercedes-Benz ML vehicles, a Volkswagen Golf, a Volkswagen Polo, a Porsche, diamond-encrusted Rolex watches and a house in Rustenburg," the court found.

Manthata rejected David's shifting explanations for his newfound wealth, which included claims that he assisted businessmen, delivered mercury, had a friendship with a diamond dealer and had accumulated wealth through Bitcoin.

"The court rejected Accused 1's explanations regarding the source of his wealth," the judgment noted.

A key moment in the trial was the court's finding on the currency itself. Witness Takallo's denial that he had been paid in US dollars was found to be dishonest.

"During cross-examination, Accused 1 confirmed that the money concerned was in US dollars," Manthata said.

For Froliana Joseph, the conviction hinged on communications. The court found she was the only domestic worker who communicated with Accused 1, while the other two cleaners did not.

The court also noted that no money linked to the alleged theft was found in her account, but still found her guilty on the conspiracy count.

For Accused 3, the lack of a link to the farm proved fatal to the State's case.

"In respect of Accused 3, the court noted that although he had communicated with Accused 1, he had never been employed at Phala Phala farm and there was no evidence suggesting that he had been at the farm. He was consequently acquitted on all counts," Manthata ruled.

The matter was postponed to 13 November 2026 for pre-sentence proceedings in respect of the convicted accused.

The National Prosecuting Authority in Limpopo welcomed the convictions.

"The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in Limpopo welcomes the convictions secured in this matter. The prosecution team will now prepare for the pre-sentence proceedings and will continue to present its case in accordance with the law and the evidence before the court," said regional spokesperson Mashudu Malabi.

The convictions mark a significant turn in a saga that has overshadowed Ramaphosa since June 2022, when former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid a criminal complaint alleging the President had concealed the theft.

Ramaphosa has always maintained the money came from the sale of buffaloes and that he did not report the crime immediately because his security team was investigating. An independent Section 89 panel in Parliament found the President had a case to answer, but the ANC used its majority to prevent an impeachment inquiry.