Phala Phala burglary trial: State hopes to turn tide after setbacks

The Phala Phala burglary trial resumes on Friday, with the State hoping to turn the tide following a couple of hitches.

Imanuwela David and siblings Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph are charged with breaking and entering into President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm and making off with $580,000 in cash.

ALSO READ:

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

- Phala Phala theft: State to apply for trial within trial

- State prosecutor in Phala Phala burglary trial declares own witness hostile

The money belonged to a Sudanese businessman who intended to purchase buffalo from the president's farm.

The trial is being heard at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo.

So far, the State has called five witnesses; however, none of them has testified to seeing any of the three accused with the stolen US dollars.

Two of the State’s key witnesses gave oral testimony that is different from the statements previously submitted to police.

One of the witnesses is a driver who initially told police he was paid $30,000 by accused number one, David, to transport him from Limpopo to Gauteng.

However, in court, the driver testified he never transported David and was actually paid only R7,000.

On Friday, the State is expected to introduce a new witness.