Phala Phala farm cash-in-couch burglary case heads to court
Phala Phala farm in Limpopo was the site of a widely publicised 2020 burglary where over $580 000 in cash was stolen.
The trial into the 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm is set to start on Monday, May 19, at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo.
The case has drawn significant attention as it marks a major development in a saga that has captured public and political interest across South Africa for nearly three years.
The accused are siblings Floriana and Ndilinasho David Joseph, along with their alleged co-conspirator, Imanuwela David. They face charges related to the theft of US$580 000 - over R10 million - reported to be payment from a Sudanese businessman for a batch of 20 buffalo. Although the burglary took place in 2020, details only emerged publicly in 2022, sparking intense scrutiny of the president's response to the incident.
Central to the case is how the trio allegedly accessed the private property and concealed their crime for an extended period. During bail hearings last year, the prosecution stated that Floriana, a former cleaner at Phala Phala, tipped off her brother and his friend about cash hidden inside a couch on the farm.
The robbery reportedly happened on February 9, 2020.
The accused are said to have removed the money hidden in a couch and later used the stolen cash extravagantly. David, identified as the mastermind, allegedly spent the funds on luxury vehicles and high-end goods, displaying his lavish lifestyle on social media.
All three defendants have declared their intention to plead not guilty in court. The prosecution plans to present 22 witnesses, including farm employees, investigating officers, and financial experts who monitored the suspects' spending patterns following the theft.
While the case focuses on the accused individuals, the broader fallout has weighed heavily on Ramaphosa's presidency. Questions remain about why the burglary was not reported to the police sooner and concerns about how presidential security handled the recovery of stolen funds outside of formal legal channels.
A parliamentary inquiry in late 2022 suggested that Ramaphosa might face consequences over the matter, though the Constitutional Court subsequently dismissed calls for further legal action. The president has consistently denied any misconduct, maintaining the money was legally earned and that the matter was reported to his security team.
The Phala Phala incident continues to be a politically charged topic, with opposition parties using it to challenge the president's integrity and transparency. As the criminal trial begins, it is expected to reopen debates about how South African leaders balance private business dealings with public office.
The accused are scheduled to enter their formal pleas as the court proceedings start this morning.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Maverick
8 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Loaded for Bear: African Parks has disgracefully sent more SA rhinos to repressive Rwanda
Much of Africa's wildlife lies within the borders of states with questionable governance or human rights records. But some lines can be drawn in the sand. The Kigali regime stands out for the sheer scale of its repression and the regional instability it has unleashed. Many conservation groups in Africa have a human rights problem. Pointedly, they often stand accused of being more concerned about the plight of Africa's animals than that of its people. This perception has been further entrenched by African Parks' announcement this week that it has just translocated another 70 white rhinos from South Africa to Rwanda – a sinister state that has been credibly linked to the killing of dissidents on South African soil. When African Parks, a Johannesburg-based NGO, announced in 2021 that it had relocated 30 white rhinos to Rwanda's Akagera National Park, I criticised it at the time in this publication, noting that those rhinos would be safer than the country's dissidents. That observation still holds and, if anything, Rwanda under the autocratic rule of Paul Kagame has become even more of a pariah state with its documented support for the M23 rebels in neighbouring DRC. The diabolical nature of the Rwandan regime under Kagame has been clinically dissected in veteran journalist Michela Wrong's troubling 2021 book, Do Not Disturb: The Story of a Political Murder and an African Regime Gone Bad. 'Do Not Disturb' was the sign placed on the room door at the posh Sandton Hotel where Patrick Karegeya, once Rwanda's head of external intelligence, was found murdered more than a decade ago. But what's the murder of a dissident or two or three – or a dozen for that matter – between friends? African Parks sees no issue with shaking hands with the devil if it advances its conservation agenda – which is disturbing. 'In 2021, African Parks moved 30 southern white rhinos to Akagera National Park. This initial population has increased to 41 animals today. Building on this success, the additional 70 animals will now play a crucial role in ensuring the presence of meta-populations across the continent, presenting opportunities for future range expansion,' African Parks said. It's all about the animals! It's like African Parks is living in a bubble, completely disconnected from the odious nature of the state it has chosen as a conservation partner. But that's perhaps not surprising, given the NGO's track record elsewhere in Africa. Last month it acknowledged that some of its eco-rangers had committed human rights abuses against the Baka community in Odzala-Kokoua National Park, Republic of Congo, based on the findings of an independent investigation it had commissioned to probe the allegations. 'African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering caused to the victims. There is no place for any form of abuse in the name of conservation,' it said. There may be 'no place' for this kind of abuse 'in the name of conservation'. But if the state you have chosen to host a rhino conservation project is a serial human rights abuser, there is nothing to see here, folks. The rhinos will be fine! What will grab the headlines is that this is the largest translocation of its kind. African Parks has also been involved in a previous megafauna translocation which was billed as the 'largest of its kind'. In July 2022, 263 elephants were moved from Liwonde National Park in southern Malawi to Kasungu National Park, which borders Zambia along a frontier which has no fence. African Parks has since distanced itself from this project, but it certainly claimed some of the credit at the time. As I reported from the Zambian side of the park in 2024, this misconceived translocation has transformed the landscape into one of fear and loathing for the poor rural people who live there. Human-wildlife conflict is raging there, with a mounting death toll among both people and elephants. The big critters that have just been moved to Rwanda come from the 2,000-strong herd that African Parks bought in 2023 from rhino tycoon John Hume. Largely because of the efforts of the private sector, South Africa has enough rhinos for 'rewilding' efforts elsewhere, which broadly aim to restore wildlife populations to former ranges. Rwanda, by the way, is not a former white rhino range state. It is indeed the case that much of Africa's wildlife lies within the borders of states with questionable governance or human rights records. I recently covered first-hand the translocation of South African cheetahs to Mozambique, where last year's elections were hotly disputed, sparking nationwide protests. And let's face it, the ruling Frelimo party has followed other African liberation movements down the well-trodden path of corruption and misrule. But some lines can be drawn in the sand. Mountain gorillas, for example, are only found in Rwanda and neighbouring Uganda and the DRC, and so conservation efforts for this species need to be focused in those countries, regardless of the governments in power. That is not the case with white rhinos. There are plenty of other African countries where they can be translocated to and protected. The Kigali government stands out for the sheer scale of its repression and the regional instability it has unleashed. And Kagame has an instinctive understanding of what is important to the West. The rhino project comes with the prestige he craves, adding another layer of legitimacy to his regime – which does keep the streets of Kigali clean. Kagame got 99% of the vote in Rwanda's 2024 elections and unlike in Mozambique, no one was going to raise an eyebrow about that result, let alone lead a protest in the streets.
The South African
8 hours ago
- The South African
Influencer facing animal charges after mocking SPCA's dog rescue
The influencer whose TikTok video featured an emaciated dog is facing animal cruelty charges from the SPCA. Johannesburg content creator Sasha Tshiamo is accused of mocking the NGO's plight to rescue the animal, who has been affectionately nicknamed 'Bobby.' This week, a starving Bobby was rescued and removed from her home by investigators after South Africans – and the SPCA – were moved by her shocking living conditions. She is now on the path to recovery. According to reports, influencer Sasha Tshiamo has been accused of mocking the dog featured in her viral TikTok video. The content creator also made light of a national search and reward for the dog's location. Under her posts, Sasha laughed off comments calling for 'Justice for Bobby.' She also reposted a skit from another content creator who was amused by the viral incident. 'Now, she will be facing charges in terms of the Animal Protection Act, while Bobby walked out victorious against her cruelty,' the SPCA told the media. In a follow-up TikTok video, Sasha claimed that Bobby is not her dog, and 'not my responsibility'. She also claimed that social media users had 'done me dirty' in their criticism of her. The dog's owners will also face animal cruelty charges. @ ♬ original sound – ayeecannytmalume While TikTok claims that the dog did not belong to her and was hence not her 'responsibility,' others have claimed that this is a poor excuse. @tashiri_g: 'This is not a defence, it's a deflection from the fact that you did not care to help or report her abuse'. @myrnalouw: 'How can you dance while a dog is starving in the background…sies!' @duckduckgoose: 'It doesn't have to be your dog in order for you to show human decency and kindness '. @ I'm not the owner please. ♬ original sound – It can't be Sasha Meanwhile, the SPCA shared the heartbreaking story of Bobby's rescue. In a social media post, a member of the Special Projects Unit was able to remove Bobby from her home. The post read: 'She is the most lovable dog, handing out kisses to everyone since the moment she arrived! Forced to eat plastic to survive, Bobby was found severely malnourished, suffering from fly strike, and covered in ticks and fleas'. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NSPCA (@ The good news is that Bobby is now in safe hands and will be well-fed. The SPCA continued: 'She's on a long road to recovery, but once healthy, she'll be sterilised and available to the loving and caring home she deserves'. DO YOU BELIEVE THE CONTENT CREATOR DESERVED TO FACE ANIMAL CRUELTY CHARGES? Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 .
The South African
12 hours ago
- The South African
North West pastor sentenced to 15 years in jail for armed robbery
A local pastor, Petrus Phuthego Gasengake, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being convicted of a violent robbery at the home of a female congregant in Ramosadi Village near Mmabatho in the North West. The Molopo Regional Court handed down the sentence after Gasengake, 48, was found guilty of robbery with aggravating circumstances. According to an NPA media statement, the incident took place on 4 April 2021, when Gasengake visited the home of a woman from his church. Upon arriving, he ignored two other people in the house and headed straight for the victim's bedroom. An argument soon escalated, during which Gasengake attacked the woman, choking her and threatening her with a knife. He stole R4,000 in cash, her bank cards, and the keys to her car. He then fled the scene using the stolen vehicle. After the robbery, Gasengake drove to his home in Lichtenburg, where he stabbed his wife without any provocation. He then fled the area, prompting police to open cases of robbery and attempted murder. Two days later, on 6 April Gasengake was arresteed in Vryburg after the stolen vehicle was traced. The victim positively identified him during a police lineup. Gasengake was also previously convicted in November 2022 for the attempted murder of his wife, for which he received a 10-year sentence. This latest robbery conviction adds to his growing list of criminal offenses. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
