A South African court found Imanuwela David guilty of stealing $580,000 (£432,000) in cash from the Phala Phala farm owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday. The theft, which took place in February 2020, involved breaking into the cattle farm and taking the money from a sofa on the property. David subsequently spent the proceeds on luxury cars, including three Mercedes, a Porsche, two Volkswagens, diamond‑encrusted Rolex watches and a house.
In the same judgment, Froliana Joseph, a cleaner at the farm, was also convicted of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal. Her brother, Ndilinasho Joseph, was acquitted of all charges. The court noted that David was the only defendant who had any of the stolen cash in his bank account, while the other accused had no trace of the money.
David claimed he had earned the funds through businesses such as diamonds and Bitcoin, but the court rejected those statements. Pre‑sentencing hearings are scheduled for 13 November.
The case has revived the long‑running Farmgate scandal, which first surfaced in 2022 when former intelligence chief Arthur Fraser alleged that President Ramaphosa had concealed the burglary from police and tax authorities. Ramaphosa has admitted the theft occurred but denied any wrongdoing. An independent panel that year found that Ramaphosa could face questions over the burglary, but MPs voted against an impeachment inquiry. In May, the constitutional court ruled that parliament had acted unlawfully by shelving the panel’s report, and in July Ramaphosa blocked the parliamentary inquiry through a provincial court.
Observers say the conviction may prompt renewed calls for accountability and could influence future investigations into the president’s estate.
