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Phala Phala farm in Limpopo.
The trial of the three accused in the February 2020 theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm will start tomorrow in the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo.
Immanuela David and siblings Floriana and Ndilinasho Joseph allegedly broke into Ramaphosa’s farm and stole over $580 000 that had been hidden in a sofa.
David, who is accused number one, was denied bail as he is deemed a flight risk, while his co-accused were granted bail.
During the pre-trial last year, the prosecutor, Advocate Nkhetheni Munyai, said that the number of state witnesses may be reduced.
“The state is ready that the matter can be set down for trial. The state intends to call about 23 witnesses in the matter. That number may be reduced and some of the evidence may be dealt with in terms of Section 212 and Section 216 of the Criminal Procedure Act 51 of 1977 and evidence that of technical nature is only that of cellphone mapping.”
Meanwhile, Floriana and Ndilinasho Joseph’s lawyer, Mike Mokgobo, has indicated that he will call five witnesses, including the two accused, to the stand.
“On behalf of number two and three, we confirm that we have taken the instruction in respect of the witnesses, the two accused will testify further to that. We are going to call three witnesses and in total, it will be five (witnesses).”
VIDEO | Discussion – ActionSA seeks access to IPID’s report on Phala Phala farm:
