Ndilinasho David Josep appears at the Modimolle Magistrate’s Court in Limpopo on 10 November 2023. Picture: Gallo Images / Deaan Vivier The Phala Phala farm burglary trial was delayed on Monday after an Oshiwambo interpreter failed to appear in court, while a stay of arrest warrant was authorised for one of the accused. The matter was set to continue at the Modimolle Regional Court, where alleged ringleader Imanuwela David, former cleaner Froliana Joseph, and her brother Ndilinasho David Joseph are charged with housebreaking, theft and conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal.
David, who remains in custody, is also facing an additional count of money laundering. The charges relate to the theft of $580 000 that was allegedly concealed inside a couch at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in February 2020. Proceedings were brought to a halt when Magistrate Peter Manthate informed the court that both the interpreter and Ndilinasho, who is currently out on R10 000 bail, were absent.
Throughout the trial, aninterpreterhas been assisting the court in Oshiwambo, a language spoken by the Ovambo people in parts of Namibia, to ensure David and the Joseph siblings fully understand the proceedings. However, the defence previously raised concerns about the accuracy of the interpretation, prompting the court to instruct the state tosecure a different interpreter. “It is unfortunate that even if accused number three was present today, we wouldn’t be in a position to proceed with this matter because the interpreter that we have arranged with has problems.
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“We were told that he is not available because he was somehow injured,” Manthate said. The magistrate said he was hoping that the case would have reached finalisation, so the state could close its case.
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