More than six years after $580,000 was stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm in South Africa, two accused have been found guilty. Imanuwela David and Floriana Joseph were convicted of conspiracy to commit housebreaking and theft by the Modimolle Magistrates' Court on November 2, 2026. The cash, now worth over R9-million, had been hidden inside a couch at the Limpopo farm.
The State's case relied on evidence that David traveled to the vicinity of Phala Phala twice before the February 2020 break-in and his financial circumstances around the time of the theft. David spent over R5-million on luxury vehicles, custom-made dental grills, and a property in Rustenburg, North West. The court heard that he used US dollars to buy vehicles, raising questions about the origin of the funds.
Magistrate Peter Manthata focused on the source of David's money, including his use of US dollars to purchase cars. Manthata disagreed with David's explanation that he acquired the money through importing and exporting goods during Covid-19. The magistrate also noted David's change in lifestyle, from using public transport to buying luxury vehicles and a Mercedes-Benz for his girlfriend.
David's lawyer, Koena Matlala, argued that David had begun receiving large sums of money before the Phala Phala break-in through various business interests, including importing and exporting cars. The defense submitted an invoice showing over R1-million had been paid into David's account for an excavation truck three months before the burglary.
The trial began in September 2025 after lengthy delays following the February 2020 break-in. The Phala Phala saga has grown into a wider legal and political matter involving Ramaphosa, with an independent panel finding that he may have a case to answer. The National Assembly voted against referring the panel's report to an impeachment committee, but the Constitutional Court ordered it to be referred to a committee in May 2026.
An Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) report found that the theft had been mishandled by members of the Presidential Protection Service. Ipid recommended disciplinary action against Major General Wally Rhoode and Constable Hlulani Rekhoto for breaching police rules and legal obligations. Manthata criticized the investigation, saying there were no fingerprints or usable video footage showing who had broken into the President's house.
The case was postponed to November 13, 2026, for pre-sentence proceedings for David and Floriana Joseph. Floriana's brother, Ndilinasho Joseph, was acquitted of all charges. One of the accused, Floriana Joseph, walks free as her sentence will be determined at the later hearing.
Key points
- Two accused found guilty in $580,000 theft from President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm
- Investigation into the burglary was criticized for being poorly done
- Case has grown into a wider legal and political matter involving Ramaphosa
