Phala Phala burglary case: Trial-within-a-trial to resume

The trial-within-a-trial in the Phala Phala case resumes on Monday after a State witness accused police of making him sign a prepared statement.

The witness, who cannot be named due to legal reasons, has been identified as an old friend of the three accused burglars and allegedly transported some of them after the incident.

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 US dollars in cash.

They are due to appear in the Modimolle Regional court in Limpopo.

Speaking through an interpreter, the witness testified in court that he doesn’t know anything about a police affidavit he signed back in 2022.

"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."

Hawks detective Ludi Schnelle has denied this.

Schnelle said that he never threatened the witness and also poured doubt on the claim that he was illiterate.

"I met him in May to sign his affidavit that I presented to him to say ‘here’s your statement, read through it'. I also read it through with him. I gave him an opportunity to change anything or add anything he wants and he then signed it in my presence, and that’s how the affidavit got commissioned."

The initial trial is scheduled to sit until Wednesday.