South Africa convicts two over Ramaphosa farm theft

A South African regional court in Limpopo convicted two people on Monday over a 2020 break-in at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farmhouse.

The court convicted Imanuwela David, described in court as the alleged mastermind of the break-in, on three of four charges, including money laundering. A cleaner at the farm was found guilty of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal. Her brother was acquitted.

The case centres on the theft of foreign currency allegedly hidden in furniture at the farm in northern South Africa. Ramaphosa has said the stolen money amounted to $580,000 and came from the sale of 20 buffalo. He denies wrongdoing and any cover-up.

The scandal became public in June 2022 when South Africa's former spy chief filed a police complaint accusing Ramaphosa of concealing the theft and alleging that burglars had taken $4 million.

The case nearly threatened Ramaphosa's leadership of the African National Congress in late 2022. An independent panel later said he "may have committed" serious violations and misconduct linked to the break-in, but parliament voted against opening impeachment proceedings. South Africa's top court overturned that decision in May, allowing parliament to reconsider impeachment proceedings. Ramaphosa has filed a court application seeking a review of the report that triggered the impeachment process.