/file/attachments/orphans/Nonku-PhalaPhalaTrial2_989874.jpg "Two Convicted in Landmark Phala Phala Farm Theft Trial")
Modimolle Court Convicts Two Over Phala Phala Farm Cash Theft
More than six years after $580,000 in cash was stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo, the Modimolle Magistrates’ Court convicted two people for their roles in the February 2020 burglary. On Monday, 2 November 2026, Magistrate Peter Manthata found Imanuwela David and former farm cleaner Floriana Joseph guilty of conspiracy to commit housebreaking and theft. Floriana Joseph’s brother, Ndilinasho Joseph, was acquitted of all charges in the regional court.
The National Prosecuting Authority in Limpopo welcomed the convictions, prosecuted by advocate Nkhetheni Munyai alongside defense advocates Koena Matlala and Relleng Masipa.
Luxury Spending Spree Traces Millions to Farm Break-In
During the trial, the court heard that Imanuwela David spent money on luxury assets following the heist. Financial records presented to the court revealed he bought a fleet of vehicles including a VW Golf 7, a Porsche, a Volkswagen Polo, two Mercedes-Benz ML vehicles, and a 2016 Mercedes-Benz C200 for his girlfriend. Additional expenditures included diamond-encrusted Rolex watches and a house in Rustenburg.
Magistrate Manthata rejected David’s defense that his wealth originated from legitimate business interests, including car imports and exports, construction work with his uncle, and trading in Bitcoin. The court noted David’s heavy cash spending in US dollars during the Covid-19 pandemic, contrasting with his claims regarding the origin of the funds. The acting farm manager testified that a buyer originally paid the $580,000 in cash for 20 buffaloes on 25 December 2019, before staff moved the money into a sofa inside the presidential residence.
Legal Fallout and Ongoing Impeachment Proceedings
The criminal trial commenced in September 2025 following extended delays, drawing intense political scrutiny regarding President Ramaphosa. In 2022, an independent panel chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo concluded that Ramaphosa may have a case to answer over the saga. Although the National Assembly initially voted against referring that report to an impeachment committee in December 2022, the Constitutional Court overturned that decision in May 2026 and ordered that the report be referred to an impeachment committee. A report by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate criticized the initial law enforcement response, recommending disciplinary measures against Presidential Protection Service head Major General Wally Rhoode and Constable Hlulani Rekhoto for breaching police rules and legal obligations.
Sentencing Date Set as Defense Prepares Submissions
Magistrate Manthata addressed the circumstances surrounding the crime at the residence of the President. Defense counsel Koena Matlala maintained that David acquired funds through independent business ventures prior to the break-in, submitting an invoice showing a payment for an excavation truck months before the incident. Following the convictions, the court postponed the matter to Friday, 13 November 2026, for pre-sentence proceedings for Imanuwela David and Floriana Joseph.