Magistrate Peter Manthata began delivering judgment in the Phala Phala farm theft trial on Monday, reading out a long list of vehicles, property and cash that the court heard were bought with money stolen from a house on President Cyril Ramaphosa's Limpopo farm in February 2020.

Three people are on trial: Imanuwela David, Froliana Joseph and Ndilinasho Joseph. They are presumed innocent unless convicted. The president is not an accused.

The charges and the accused

The three face charges of housebreaking with intent to steal, theft, conspiracy to commit theft and money laundering. The state alleges David was the mastermind, and that Froliana Joseph, a former domestic worker at the farm, tipped off the thieves. Ndilinasho Joseph is her brother.

"They pleaded not guilty to all the counts and exercised the right to remain silent and did not disclose the basis of their defence," Manthata said, according to reporting of the judgment.

What the court read out

The court heard that 20 buffaloes were bought on 25 December 2019 for $580,000 in cash, and that the house on the farm was broken into on 9 February 2020. The accused were arrested in November 2023.

According to the details read out in court, the purchases attributed to David included:

  • a Volkswagen Polo (R150,000), a BMW M5 (R450,000), two Mercedes-Benz G63s (R1.2 million each) and a Porsche (R800,000);
  • residential property worth R850,000;
  • a Volkswagen Golf 7, a Rolex watch, a Land Rover and another BMW (R500,000) bought for his girlfriend; and
  • an exchange of $80,000 into rand through a currency dealer.

The state's case and the defence

The state relied on cellphone records placing the accused near the farm, banking transactions after the theft, and evidence of the luxury purchases. The defence argued the case was circumstantial and lacked direct DNA or fingerprint evidence.

Farm manager Dumisani Sylvester Ndlovu testified earlier in the trial that a buyer paid $580,000 for the buffaloes, that the cash was first kept in a safe, and that he moved it into the house and hid it under a couch before leaving for the December holidays. He testified that Ramaphosa had asked him to wait until he returned from leave before dealing with the money. The farm's general manager testified that temporary workers were allowed to clean the house, contrary to farm rules.

What we do not yet know

  • The verdict on each count, and whether any of the accused will be convicted or acquitted.
  • If there is a conviction, when sentencing will take place.
  • Whether the court will make further findings on the evidence about how the money was kept.

This story is based on a single detailed account of the judgment. We will update it when the verdict is confirmed.