Phala Phala cash theft ‘mastermind’ arrested

Namibian born Imanuwela David (39) and his relative Froliana Joseph (30) appeared in a South African court yesterday in connection with the theft of US$580 000.

The money was stolen from South African president Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in February 2020.

South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson for Limpopo province, Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, said in a statement yesterday that David and Joseph are charged with conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, housebreaking with intent to steal, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft and money laundering.

“This relates to US$580 000 which was stolen at Phala Phala farm which belongs to president Cyril Ramaphosa. The pair was arrested by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) on Sunday and Monday, respectively,” she said.

She added that the investigations revealed that on 1 January 2020, the accused persons conspired to commit housebreaking with intent to steal and theft at Phala Phala farm, and on 8 January 2020, David and two others entered Stokkiesdraai farm believing that it was Phala Phala farm.

They allegedly broke in, but nothing was stolen.

“The following night they located the Phala Phala farm where they broke [in], entered and stole US$580 000.”

The matter has been postponed to 10 November for David to arrange for legal representation and for a formal bail application, she said.

At the time of the robbery, Joseph worked at the farm as a nanny.

Former South African spy boss Arthur Fraser named David, Erkki Shikongo, Petrus Muhekeni, Urbanus Shaumbwako and Petrus Afrikaner as the suspected perpetrators of the heist.

The five men reportedly found the money hidden in a sofa.

However, Muhekeni denied being part of the gang, saying Shikongo used his driving licence when he bought a car with stolen cash.

However, according to Fraser’s affidavit, in mid-February 2020 Shikongo transferred R715 000 to a Cape Town car dealership and registered a VW Golf GTI in his name three days later.

News24 reported last year that deed records show Shikongo bought a N$1,7m flat in Blouberg, Cape Town, in March 2021, and a N$300 000 property in Wallacedene, Kraaifontein, in July 2020.

South African media reported that title deeds show that Shikongo owned no properties before the burglary.

Shikongo also bought a guest house near Outapi in March 2020 for N$800 000 and also bought a second-hand Toyota Land Cruiser for N$165 000.

It is reported that David is suspected of using some of the “stolen” money to renovate his grandmother Mwaambange Shikunda’s house at Olukekete village in the Omusati region.

David is also said to have bought a VW Golf R among other flashy cars he acquired at the time.

David was arrested by the Namibian Police on 14 June 2020 in Windhoek, after he allegedly crossed into Namibia via the Orange River in the south.

The police said they found him possessing a TAG Heuer watch worth over N$28 000, a Rolex watch worth N$290 000, gold chain valued at N$170 000 and 11 notes in US dollars.

Ramaphosa has been accused of paying David, Joseph and other accused persons around N$150 000 each to keep quiet.

Another accused man, Urbanus Shaumbwako, has been in a South African prison since October 2020. He was allegedly arrested with a bag containing 12 pistols, all with their serial numbers filed off.

Some of the guns are said to belong to the Namibian Police.

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