Phala Phala case heads for trial within a trial

The Phala Phala case is heading for a trial within a trial, after a state witness told the court he was illiterate and signed a police statement he didn't understand.

The adult male cannot be named due to an order in the case preventing the media from identifying witnesses.

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During his brief testimony on Wednesday at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo, the witness said he was an old friend of all three of the accused.

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

The witness previously told the court he cannot read or write, prompting the state prosecutor to make an application for a trial within a trial to determine whether his signed police statement can be used as evidence in this case.

"Consequently, I grant the request and order that a trial within a trial be held in these proceedings in order to establish if the witness made the statement or the police came with an already written statement for him to sign," said Magistrate Peter Manthata.