Two of the three suspects linked to a burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm have been granted bail.

Imanuwela David, Froliana Joseph and David Joseph appeared in the Bela Bela District Court on Friday on charges of theft, housebreaking with intent to steal, money laundering and conspiracy to commit robbery at the farm.

The Citizen reports Magistrate Predeshni Poonan said the duo co-operated with police thus far so the state was not opposed to them being released on bail.

Froliana was released on R 5 000 bail and David on R10 000 bail. When Froliana was arrested, the NPA said she was a Namibian national, but in her bail affidavit she said she was born and raised in Bela Bela.

Meanwhile, Imanuwela has been remanded in custody.

His attorney only appeared for him for the first time on Friday. His bail hearing will be heard on 6 December. 

News24 reports that the three suspects in the recently launched prosecution were identified – and two questioned – by Ramaphosa's security head within weeks of the break-in, but the President's protection team did nothing to ensure they were charged.

In an interview with the Office of the Public Protector, Presidential Protection Service (PPS) head Major-General Wally Rhoode insisted he was not ‘investigating’ the break-in when he interviewed Froliana Joseph, and her brother, 30 days after the 9 February 2020 burglary.

Rather, Rhoode said, he was ‘inquiring’ about the break-in.

Neither he nor anyone else from the PPS or Phala Phala ever laid charges in relation to the theft of the money, which Ramaphosa claims was a security deposit for 20 substandard buffalo – meaning the probe he and his team carried out was effectively off the books.

Full report in The Citizen

Full News24 report