Imanuwela David, Floriana Joseph and Ndilinasho Joseph appeared before the Modimolle regional court on Tuesday. | Supplied
The three Phala Phala game farm accused will have to wait for a little more than a month to get their day in court after the Modimolle Regional Court postponed their case to October.
Namibian nationals, Imanuwela David, Floriana Joseph and Ndilinasho Joseph appeared in court, in what was supposed to be a pre-trial on Tuesday after a series of postponements.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, confirmed that the matter was postponed to October 7 for disclosure of the docket and to enlist the services of an interpreter.
The three were arrested late last year and are facing charges of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal, housebreaking with intent to steal, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, with the money laundering charge applying to David only.
Floriana, who is Ramaphosa’s former housekeeper, and her brother, Ndilinasho, who are accused number two and three, were granted R5 000 and R10 000 bail, respectively, in November last year while David was remanded in custody since his first appearance.
David is believed to be the mastermind in the matter that involves the theft of undeclared US dollars that were hidden at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in 2022.
About $580 000 (now about R10 million) was allegedly stolen in the 2020 burglary.
The NPA at the time had revealed that Ramaphosa would not be on the list of witnesses to testify against the three.
The scandal tainted Ramaphosa’s credibility ahead of the ANC’s December 2022 elective conference that saw him defeat former health minister Zweli Mkhize to secure a second term.
The scandal also sparked a judicial inquiry after former spy boss Arthur Fraser filed official complaints of money laundering against Ramaphosa and his head of security, General Wally Rhoode, at the Rosebank police station on June 1, 2022.
In his affidavit, Fraser claimed the amount stolen was between $4 million and $8 million. He also claimed the president attempted to conceal the crime by paying off those who stole from him in exchange for their silence on the theft at his farm.
A public outcry resulted in Parliament appointing an independent panel headed by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, whose damning report cautioned that Ramaphosa was not being truthful by declaring that only $580 000 was stolen.
The cash was allegedly hidden in sofas, which blew the lid on allegations of tax evasion against Ramaphosa, but was later cleared by the SA Revenue Service.
The Star
mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za