Phala Phala general manager tells court he called Ramaphosa after break-in, not police

The general manager at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm has told the court that he called the president after the break-in at the farm instead of the police.

In February 2020, Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo was broken into, with the robbers stealing $580,000 in cash.

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

Imanuwela David and siblings Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph are currently on trial for the matter at the Modimolle Regional Court.

The general manager, who cannot be named, has testified in court that he didn’t know there was money hidden in the compound.

Prosecutor Nkhetheni Munyai asked: "It is common cause that the housebreaking incident at Phala Phala farm was not immediately reported to the Bela Bela policing station, which is the policing area, it was only registered some time later. Do you have an explanation for that?"

The general manager responded: "In my knowledge, the president told me he would inform the police and the police arrived to the farm and that’s for me, the police that arrived. In my knowledge, I didn’t take notice whether they were from Bela Bela and wherever they come. The police just arrived as was instructed to me."