Another courtroom pause just stretched the Phala Phala saga deeper into 2026, keeping President Cyril Ramaphosa’s stolen cash drama stuck in legal limbo.
Phala Phala trial delayed again
Phala Phala trial delayed again
- Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo pushed the case to 13 March 2026.
- Proceedings stalled after scrutiny of bank records and financial evidence.
- State already called its 20th witness before the postponement.
- Earlier setbacks involved pregnancy issues and a Namibian interpreter request.
- Imanuwela David allegedly funneled over R1 million into a dealership account.
- Investigators flagged deposits that ballooned after February 2020.
- One account reflected R9 million landing in May 2020.
- Prosecutor's theory ties sudden cash spikes to the farm burglary.
- Imanuwela David is described as the group’s central figure.
- Froliana Joseph previously cleaned at Phala Phala and found hidden cash.
- Ndilinasho Joseph joined the alleged break-in plot.
- David has been jailed since 2023, while the siblings await trial on bail.
- US$580,000 vanished from Phala Phala near Bela-Bela on 9 February 2020.
- Cash reportedly came from a cattle sale to Hazim Mustafa.
- Cyril Ramaphosa’s security team handled the initial response internally.
- June 2022 charges by a former spy boss triggered national investigations.
- Hawks, tax authorities, and the Reserve Bank examined the foreign currency deal.
- Reports later cleared Ramaphosa of wrongdoing in the transaction.
- Economic Freedom Fighters keep pressing questions about transparency.
- Constitutional Court judges still weigh Parliament’s handling of the matter.
