National Prosecuting Authority
Two people arrested in connection with the burglary at president Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala-Phala game farm made brief appearance in the Bela-Bela magistrates court on Tuesday.
The 39-year old man and 30-year old woman were arrested on Sunday and Monday respectively, in connection with the February, 2020 break-in.
Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, the spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) says investigations had revealed that the two had conspired to commit the crime at Phala Phala.
"On 8 January 2020 Imanuwela with two others entered Stokkiesdraai farm believing that it was Phala Phala farm. They broke in but nothing was stolen. The following night they located Phala Phala farm where they stole 580 000 US dollars," she said.
Dressed in olive green jackets, the Namibian nationals, Imanuwela David and Froliana Joseph, appeared in front of a packed courtroom on charges of house robbery, theft and money laundering.
It is believed that Joseph was a domestic worker at the game farm during the incident.
Their case was remanded to Friday for a bail application.
The break-in made international headlines, after former spy boss, Arthur Fraser, laid charges against Ramaphosa.
Further damning allegations were that Ramaphosa had failed to report the burglary and allegedly used his connections to track down the perpetrators who were then allegedly paid to keep quiet.
In June the Public Protector, Kholeka Gcaleka, cleared the President of any wrongdoing, finding that there was no conflict of interest, no abuse of power, and that the president received no remuneration from the farm.
