Cyril Ramaphosa Farm Theft Verdict: Man Guilty of Stealing $580,000

A South African court determined on Monday that Imanuwela David stole $580,000, equivalent to £432,000, from the Phala Phala farm owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The verdict confirms David committed theft and conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal at the property in Limpopo province in February 2020.

David is not the only person convicted in the case. Froliana Joseph, a cleaner employed at the farm, was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal. Her brother, Ndilinasho Joseph, was acquitted on all charges. The court rejected David's defense that he acquired the money through legitimate businesses involving diamonds and Bitcoin. It also noted that David was the only convicted defendant who had any portion of the stolen cash in his bank accounts.

After securing the funds, David engaged in extensive spending. He purchased multiple vehicles, including three Mercedes, a Porsche, and two Volkswagens. Among the Mercedes, one was bought for his girlfriend. He also acquired diamond-encrusted Rolex watches and a house. The court found that the cash was originally hidden inside a sofa on the farm property.

The incident, known as the Farmgate scandal, remained largely unknown until 2022. Arthur Fraser, South Africa's former intelligence chief and an ally of former President Jacob Zuma, brought the theft to public attention. Fraser claimed that Ramaphosa concealed the burglary from police and tax authorities. Ramaphosa admitted the theft occurred but denied any personal wrongdoing.

The case has involved several legal and political hurdles. In 2022, an independent panel concluded that Ramaphosa had questions to answer regarding the burglary. Parliament voted against establishing an impeachment inquiry at that time. In May of this year, the constitutional court ruled that parliament acted unlawfully by shelving the panel's report. Subsequently, in July, Ramaphosa blocked the parliamentary inquiry through a provincial court. Sentencing for David and Joseph is scheduled for 13 November.