Imanuewela David and Froliana Joseph were found guilty of housebreaking in the Phala Phala farm theft.
The Modimolle Regional Court has convicted two people in connection with the theft of theft of US$580 000 from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in February 2020.
Accused No.1, Imanuwela David was found guilty of conspiracy to commit housebreaking and theft, as well as money laundering, while second accused, Froliana Joseph was found guilty of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal.
However, third accused, Ndilinasho Joseph was acquitted on all charges while the all three were accused were found guilty of charges relating to a separate incident in Stokkiedraai farm.
In delivering judgment, magistrate Peter Manthata 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.
He also remarked on shortcomings in the investigation and noted that the criminal case was opened approximately two years after the incident.
The court found that the circumstantial evidence presented by the State was sufficient to secure convictions on the charges outlined above.
“The evidence showed that shortly after the burglary, David 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 further found that witness Takallo’s denial that he had been paid in US dollars was not genuine.
During cross-examination, David confirmed that the money concerned was in US dollars.
The court rejected David’s explanations regarding the source of his wealth, including claims that he assisted businessmen, delivered mercury, had a friendship with a diamond dealer and had accumulated wealth through Bitcoin.
The court further considered evidence relating to communications between Joseph and David.
It noted that Joseph was the only domestic worker who communicated with David, while the other two cleaners did not.
The court also noted that no money linked to the alleged theft was found in her account.
Manthata said, “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.
Regional spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority in Limpopo, Mashudu Malabi says the NPA welcomes the convictions secured in this matter.
She said, “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.
The matter was postponed to 13 November 2026 for pre-sentence proceedings in respect of the convicted accused.