The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has expressed confidence in its case against the suspects involved in the burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm.
Three individuals have been arrested in connection with the robbery in Limpopo, and the NPA believes it has sufficient evidence to link them to the crime.
The third suspect turned himself into the police in Bela Bela on Thursday, following the arrests of Imanuwela David and Froliana Joseph earlier in the week.
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The trio is facing charges of theft, housebreaking with intent to steal, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit robbery.
Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the NPA Limpopo spokesperson, stated that the third suspect is the brother of Froliana Joseph, a former employee at the game farm. “We’ve got sufficient evidence to link the suspects to the burglary,” Malabi-Dzhangi said.
During a media briefing before the court proceedings, Malabi-Dzhangi revealed that the NPA would not oppose bail for Froliana Joseph due to the fact that she has a one-year-old baby who requires breastfeeding. However, bail opposition is expected for some of the other accused.
Malabi-Dzhangi added that the investigation is still ongoing, indicating that there may be further developments in the case.
The theft at Ramaphosa’s game farm occurred in February 2020, with $580,000 (approximately R10.6 million at the time) being stolen.
The incident came to light when Arthur Fraser, the former State Security Agency boss, lodged a case of kidnapping and money laundering against Ramaphosa, Major-General Wally Rhoode of the Presidential Protection Services, and Crime Intelligence.
Fraser alleged that they had concealed the robbery and that the president had paid off the suspects to maintain their silence.
However, Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka recently cleared Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing in the handling of the theft. This decision was met with opposition from various political parties.
