Phala Phala theft trial: Car salesman says he was excluded from handling luxury car purchases

A car salesperson from a dealership in Benoni has testified that his managers deliberately excluded him from high-value sales of luxury vehicles to one of the men accused in the Phala Phala farm theft.

The salesperson, whose name is being withheld by court order, testified at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo.

He stated that he introduced Imanuwela David, accused number one, to his manager, but did not personally sell any vehicles to him.

David, along with siblings Floriana and Ndilinasho Joseph, is accused of breaking into President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm in February 2020 and stealing $580,000 in cash.

READ: Phala Phala: Dentist says accused 1 paid him R250k to make 'grills' for him

The court heard that on the morning of February 10, 2020, the day after the alleged robbery at President Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm, David arrived at the Benoni car dealership.

The salesperson testified that David toldhim he wanted to buy a car cash, using US dollars. As the salesperson is not authorised to handle cash payments from customers, he called his manager to take over the deal.

The salesperson described being completely shut out of the subsequent transactions, suggesting his bosses took over to pocket the commission.

"After [name of General Manager withheld] he came and took him (David). Then afterwards, I don't know what’s happening there. Who took the money, delivered how many cars—actually, bottom line, they threw me out. Maybe they made money, God knows, but they threw me out. It was supposed to be my client," the salesperson testified.

The car dealership's manager has previously testified in the trial, confirming that the US dollar transactions were ultimately handled by the company's owner (director).