How robbers spent the funds stolen from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. Image source: X @IAmMzilikazi
Here’s what Phala Phala criminals spent Ramaphosa’s money on
We take a look at what the suspected Phala Phala robbers spent President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stolen money on.
How robbers spent the funds stolen from Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. Image source: X @IAmMzilikazi
A few days after it emerged that several men linked with the 2020 Phala Phala robbery were arrested, we’ve caught a glimpse of what the robber spent President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stolen money on.
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The 2020 incident flew under the radar until 2022, when it emerged that President Ramaphosa had failed to report the robbery which took place on his game farm in Limpopo. Back in 2020, robbers made their way onto his farm and stole close to $500 000 in undeclared funds. Phala Phala-gate went on to become one of the most controversial sagas of 2022 and in November 2023, police reported that three men had been arrested in connection with the robbery.
PHALA PHALA ROBBERS BOUGHT MERCS WITH RAMAPHOSA’S LOOT
The money in question was said to have been stolen from its hidden location inside of a sofa at the Phala Phala farmhouse. At the time of the crime, Ramaphosa failed/refused to report it to authorities and most South Africans only found out about the matter two years later (more on that shortly). It’s taken a further year for suspects to be arrested. In the time since then, we’ve discovered that the criminals spent Ramaphosa’s money extremely lavishly.
ALSO READ: Phala Phala: Two suspects arrested
A social media post has linked one of the arrested suspects with the purchase of two Mercedes Benz G-Wagons. The whistleblower wrote on X, “BRAGGING: The alleged farm robbery mastermind, Imanuwela David, with one of his two Mercedes Benz G-Wagon he bought after him and his friends stolen undisclosed amount of American dollars from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s game farm in Bela Bela on February 9, 2020.”
The same account continued to spill even more secrets when they added a second video implicating another of the accused robbers. They continued “Imanuwela David with one of his friends, Errki Shikongo, who is also accused of being one of six (not five as previously reported) Namibian nationals who robbed President Ramaphosa’s farm. The two men are seen here at Amandla Guest House which Shikongo bought for N$800 000 after Phala Phala was robbed.”
ALSO READ: Why Ramaphosa isn’t off the hook yet
WHAT’S NEXT FOR SUSPECTS?
With the evidence appearing on social media, it is not looking good for the reprimanded suspects. They are set to appear at the Bela Bela Magistrate’s court on Friday 10 November where they will be facing charges of theft and burglary.
ALSO READ: Phala Phala farm theft suspects to appear in court
The most recently arrested member of the trio was also recently exposed on social media where a video of him counting American dollars has gone viral.
All three suspects will be applying for bail in the coming weeks and are awaiting a date for their hearing.
