Phala Phala theft suspects back in court on Friday
The case against two suspects linked to the robbery at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm in 2020 has been postponed to Friday.
Imanuwela David (39) and Froliana Joseph (30) made a brief appearance in the Bela Bela Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
They were arrested on Sunday and Monday in Rustenburg and Bela Bela, respectively.
The president's farm made headlines last year after former spy boss Arthur Fraser revealed that thousands of US dollars were stolen at the farm in February 2020.
Fraser alleged Ramaphosa attempted to cover up the theft at the Limpopo farm.
During the 2020 robbery, an undisclosed amount of US dollars was stolen - believed to be hidden in the cushions of a sofa in the home.
The National Prosecuting Authority's Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi says the two face four charges, including conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, housebreaking with intent to steal, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, and money laundering.
Malabi-Dzhangi says Joseph is believed to be a central figure in the alleged robbery.
"Froliana Joseph was a worker on the farm on a temporary base, and Imanuwela David was not familiar with the farm. It is alleged that he was invited by accused number two, who was the cleaner on the farm," she said.
She confirmed that the accused are originally from Namibia, but they now hold South African citizenship.
Senior State advocate Nkhetheni Munyai, who is Joseph's attorney, told the court that her child relies on her to be breastfed.
Munyai was granted permission for the child to be brought to the police station three times a day to be breastfed.
The case has been postponed to Friday for Joseph to apply for bail and for David to appoint a legal representative.
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