Man convicted of stealing over $500,000 from President Ramaphosa’s farm
A South African court found Imanuwela David guilty of stealing cash worth more than $500,000 from the president’s Phala Phala farm.
Imanuwela David was found guilty on Monday of stealing more than $500,000 (£372,822) in cash from Phala Phala farm, a property owned by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The court also convicted Froliana Joseph, a cleaner at the farm, of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal. Her brother, Ndilinasho Joseph, was acquitted of all charges.
According to the judgment, David broke into the cattle farm in February 2020 and removed $580,000 (£432,000) from a sofa. He subsequently purchased three Mercedes cars (including one for his girlfriend), a Porsche, two Volkswagens, diamond‑encrusted Rolex watches and a house.
David claimed the money came from businesses involving diamonds and Bitcoin, a defence the court rejected. It noted that David was the only convicted person with any of the stolen cash in his bank account.
Pre‑sentencing will occur on 13 November.
The case forms part of the larger “Farmgate” scandal that resurfaced in 2022 when former intelligence chief Arthur Fraser alleged that Ramaphosa concealed the theft from police and tax authorities. Ramaphosa has admitted the theft occurred but denies any wrongdoing.
An independent panel that year suggested the president could face questions over the burglary, though 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 a parliamentary inquiry through a provincial court.
The cash‑in‑the‑sofa saga shows no sign of ending for South Africa’s president.
