Sentencing in Phala Phala farm theft case postponed

The sentencing for the two convicted thieves involved in the theft from President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm, known as Phala Phala, has been delayed until November 26 by the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo. The court is waiting for a supervision report from the correctional officer regarding Froliana Joseph, who has been on bail prior to her conviction earlier this month.

The report will be utilized to mitigate her sentence. Imanuwela David, the mastermind behind the theft, has finished his testimony in mitigation of his sentence. The duo stole $580,000 from the farm in Bela Bela in February 2020. David was found guilty of conspiracy to commit house breaking with intent to steal, housebreaking, and money laundering.

Joseph was found guilty of the same offenses. During the mitigation of sentence, David stated that he is unaware of the break-in and the theft from President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm. He claimed that he did not steal the money, which was concealed inside a sofa at the farm. He further informed the court that his imprisonment has negatively affected his family, especially his mother and children, as he is the sole provider for them.

David said, "Since the day of my arrest, I can say that it has affected me a lot more especially because I was a breadwinner to my family, starting from my mother, my siblings, my kids. So, now I'm here in prison and people who were depending on me, they are stranded." Magistrate Peter Manthata granted a postponement as the court awaits the correctional supervision report concerning Joseph's situation.

The court considered David's application for a correctional supervision report and found it acceptable, granting the application. David and Joseph will learn their sentence when sentencing proceedings resume later this month.