FEAR BOYS! Three Netted For Stealing UGX 2B From President’s Farm

By Our Reporter

Three people went on trial in South Africa on Monday over the alleged theft of $580,000 (about Ugx2.03billion) in cash hidden inside a couch at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm.

The accused – identified as Imanuwela David, Ndilinasho Joseph, and his sister Froliana Joseph – face charges of housebreaking, conspiracy to commit housebreaking, and theft. David also faces a money laundering charge. The trio pleaded not guilty as proceedings opened at the Bela-Bela Magistrate’s Court.

Prosecutors allege the suspects broke into the president’s farm in Limpopo Province in February 2020 and stole the money, which Ramaphosa later said came from the sale of animals. The trial is expected to last three weeks, with 20 witnesses lined up to testify, including farm employees.

The case, widely known as “Farmgate,” caused a political storm when it was first revealed in 2022 by former intelligence chief Arthur Fraser. He accused Ramaphosa of hiding as much as $4 million, using state security operatives to track the suspects, and covering up the theft.

Although police and financial authorities later cleared the president of wrongdoing, the scandal nearly led to impeachment proceedings in Parliament and raised questions about why such a large sum of foreign currency was kept on the property.

The trial has been delayed several times, including to allow one of the defendants, Froliana Joseph, to give birth. It is now moving forward under heavy public and media scrutiny, as critics and supporters alike watch to see whether new details will emerge about the 2020 heist and the president’s handling of the matter.