Phala Phala: Phones of accused were pinged on day of burglary, court hears

A data analyst testified in court on Wednesday that the cellphones of all three of the accused Phala Phala burglars were pinged near the farm on the day of the robbery.

The analyst, who cannot be named due to a standing order not to identify witnesses, testified at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo where the trial is taking place.

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

State witness testimony in the trial has so far only implicated accused number one, David.

However, a data analyst on Wednesday showed how the other two accused played a role in the alleged robbery.

The analyst said on the day of the robbery and the days leading up to it, there were a lot of calls between David, Ndilinasho and Froliana Joseph.

Froliana was a temporary cleaner at the Phala Phala farm.

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The analyst testified that on the day of the robbery, the three accused along with three other suspects were in the same place.

“The handsets with cellphone numbers associated with these individuals activated cellphone towers in the vicinity of Phala Phala farm around the same times.”

The analyst is set to be cross-examined by the defence lawyers on Friday.