Phala Phala farm theft suspects to appear in court

Two suspects arrested for alleged theft at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm are expected to  make their first appearance in the Bela Bela Magistrates Court on Tuesday, 7 November. 

The two suspects aged 30 and 39 were arrested on Sunday, 5 November 2023 and Monday, 6 November 2023 respectively on charges of house breaking and theft.

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TWO ARRESTED FOR THEFT AT PHALA PHALA GAME FARM 

South African Police Service (SAPS) spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale said the pair was arrested in Rustenburg and Bela Bela respectively, by the members of the National Serious Corruption Investigation in relation to the Phalaphala farm break-in in February 2020. 

“The arrest of the third suspect is imminent,” Mogale said. 

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BACKGROUND: HOW WE GOT HERE

In June 2022, former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid criminal charges against Ramaphosa, claiming that he concealed the theft of R62 million that had been kept on his farm in Phala Phala, Limpopo two years before.

He also alleged that the suspects were kidnapped and interrogated, before being offered money for their silence. Ramaphosa subsequently admitted there was a robbery on his property, but denied being criminally liable and says the monies stolen were proceeds from the sale of cattle on his farm.

As previously reported, Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa confirmed that he purchased the animals in cash over the festive period in 2019. He told Sky News that he was in Limpopo to celebrate Christmas and his wife’s birthday and brought the cash through the airport because “$580 000 is nothing for a businessman like [him].”

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