Phala Phala Burglary Trial: Court To Rule On State Witness Who Changed Testimony

The high-profile Phala Phala burglary trial resumes at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo on Wednesday, where the magistrate is expected to make a crucial ruling on a State witness who altered his testimony.

The witness, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is the driver accused of unknowingly transporting the alleged robbers from Limpopo to Gauteng a day after the break-in.

Imanuwela David, along with siblings Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph, face charges of breaking into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm and stealing $580,000 in cash.

Phala Phala: Testimony Contradicts Police Statement

In a written police statement, the driver claimed he was paid $30,000 in cash for transporting the accused. However, in his oral testimony before the court, he insisted he only received R7,000.

State prosecutor Nkhetheni Munyai pointed out that the driver’s courtroom testimony contained several discrepancies compared to the version he originally gave police.

“The State invoked the provision of [section] 189 [of the Criminal Procedure Act] on the basis that, it’s the State’s submission that the witness did not answer properly the questions put to him,” Munyai explained.

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Section 189 of the Criminal Procedure Act deals with uncooperative witnesses and allows for penalties including a fine or imprisonment if a person is found guilty of violating it.

The driver suggested that the police statement may have been made under duress, raising further questions about the reliability of his account.

The magistrate is expected to rule on the matter during Wednesday’s proceedings.

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