Phala Phala: State suffers setbacks after 2 of its witnesses retract police statements

The State’s case in the Phala Phala burglary trial has suffered setbacks after two of its witnesses retracted their police statements.

On Wednesday, Imanuwela David appeared alongside siblings Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo.

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The trio stands accused of breaking into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm in 2020 and making off with $580,000 in cash.

One of the State’s witnesses that appeared in court is a man who allegedly, unknowingly, transported the robbers from Limpopo to Johannesburg.

The driver initially gave a police statement that he was paid $30,000 in cash; however, he changed his tune in court and said he was only paid R7,000.

Another State witness, an old friend of the three accused, told the court, through an interpreter, that he doesn’t know anything about the statement he gaveto police back in February 2020.

"They came with a statement. The only thing I want to say to the court is that I am illiterate. I don’t know how to read, I don’t know how to write. Those people came with a statement and just got me to sign it."

State prosecutor Nkhetheni Munyai invoked section 190 of the Criminal Procedure Act, declaring both of his witnesses as hostile.

The trial resumes on Friday.