Phala Phala Farm theft suspects make first court appearance

Phala Phala Farm theft suspects make first court appearance

The two suspects Imanuwela David [39] and Froliana Joseph[30] arrested for the theft at Phala Phala farm made their first court appearances on Tuesday.

The two appeared before the Bela Bela Magistrates Court, Limpopo on Tuesday.

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The two suspects are from Namibia, one is a male, while the other one is a female. The female was at the time an employee at the Phalaphala Farm owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa. It is alleged that they stole over 580,000 USD.

Suspects at Phala Phala Farm theft make first court appearance
Phala Phala Farm in Limpopo

COURT CASE ON THE PHALA PHALA FARM THEFT SUSPECTS POSTPONED

The case was remanded to Friday, 10 November for the accused to seek legal representation. The advocate dealing with the case is Senior State Advocate Nkhetheni Munyai while the presiding officer is Predeshni Poonan.

The two suspects appeared here at the Bela Bela Magistrate court. This relates to the theft of 580,000 USD at the president’s farm,” said NPA Limpopo Spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi. 

“The two suspects are facing counts of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, Housebreaking with intent to steal, and money laundering.

“In the first incident, the suspects went to the wrong farm, broke in, and entered but couldn’t steal anything. The following day they located the Phala Phala Farm and that’s where they got the money of 580,000 USD,” she said.

Froliana Joseph was an employee at the farm and was the one who invited the other accused. The court has also allowed Froliana to breastfeed her young newborn child at least three times a day.

Malabi- Dzhangi did not rule out the prospect of making more arrests before the two return to court on Friday. 

“At this stage, we can’t divulge that information, the investigations are still ongoing. Maybe on Friday, we might have something. We are working on that but we can’t divulge how many.”

Suspects arrested for Phala Phala Farm theft

Suspects arrested for Phala Phala Farm theft

Police have made two arrests in relation to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala Farm housebreaking and theft. Two suspects aged 39 and 30 will make their first appearance in the Bela Bela Magistrates Court, Limpopo on Tuesday.

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This follows their arrests on Sunday, 05 November 2023, and Monday, 06 November 2023 respectively. They are charged with housebreaking and theft.

Police confirm President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala Farm arrests
President Cyril Ramaphosa

POLICE ISSUE UPDATE ON PHALA PHALA FARM THEFT ARRESTS

The pair were arrested in Rustenburg and Bela Bela, respectively. The arrests were made by the members of the National Serious Corruption Investigation in relation to the farm break-in, in February 2020. The arrest of the third suspect is also imminent.

The Phala Phala Farm scandal has painted President Cyril Ramaphosa in a bad light. But the president was recently cleared by the SA reserve Bank as well as the Public Protector’s office. 

 Yesterday, the Sunday World carried out a report that one of the five men accused of stealing an undisclosed amount of US dollars threw a lavish birthday bash at his swanky lounge in Namibia. It was allegedly paid for by the proceeds of his daring heist.

Erkki Shikongo, is one of the five Namibian nationals accused of breaking into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farmon February 9, 2020. He allegedly hosted his lavish birthday party north of Namibia and also gave away free food.

HOW THE SCANDAL AT PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA FARM STARTED 

 Former spy chief, Arthur Fraser opened a case against Ramaphosa accusing him of money laundering, corruption, and covering up a large theft of cash.

In a sworn statement, Fraser said thieves had raided Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm found at least $4 million in foreign cash hidden in furniture. 

His statement also included security video footage and also photos. President Ramaphosa has maintained his innocence since the scandal emerged. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa grants public Holiday 

President Cyril Ramaphosa grants public Holiday 

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared Friday, 15 December 2023 a public holiday in celebration of the Springboks Rugby World Cup triumph.

The Boks won their fourth World Cup when they beat New Zealand 12-11 in the final on Saturday.

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Ramaphosa had earlier hinted that he could declare a public holiday should the Springboks win the World Cup.

President Cyril Ramaphosa grants public Holiday to celebrate the Springboks
President Cyril Ramaphosa celebrate with the Springboks

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA DECLARES PUBLIC HOLIDAY TO HONOUR SPRINGBOKS

In his ‘family address’ on Monday night, Ramaphosa said that the Boks rightfully calls for a moment to celebrate.

“I know that many of us want us to have a holiday now to celebrate. But we should all agree that we should give our matriculants time to focus on their exams and celebrate afterwards,” he said.
 
“In celebration of the Springboks’ momentous achievement and the achievements of all our other sports men and women. As a tribute to the resolve of our united nation, I am declaring Friday, 15th December 2023 as a public holiday.
 
“We declare this to be a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity. Our sports men and women have shown us what is possible. We will succeed and we will ensure that we leave no-one behind,” concluded Ramaphosa. 

“Our victorious Springboks will return home tomorrow. We will welcome them with great joy and jubilation. They will conduct a victory tour around the country and I will receive them at the Union Buildings later this week,” he said.

Ramaphosa has also called on South Africans to rally behind the Proteas Cricket team who are also participating in the World Cup in India.   “I want us to now rally behind the Proteas in the same way as we have given our support to the Springboks,” he said.   “I want us all to embark on a period of celebration culminating in a celebratory holiday after our matriculants have finished their exams and the Proteas have done the country proud at the Cricket World Cup.”

President accords Komape-Ngwenya special funeral category 2

President accords Komape-Ngwenya special funeral category 2

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has accorded activist and stalwart Ms Lydia Komape-Ngwenya a Special Provincial Official Funeral, Category 2.

Komape-Ngwenya passed on on Wednesday, 11 October 2023 in Polokwane at the age of 88.

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Born and raised in a farm in the then Northern Transvaal, her political prominence took center stage in the mid-1970s. Her father worked as a deacon in Lutheran Mission looking after livestock and sweet potatoes while her mother moved to Johannesburg to find a job as a domestic worker.

Activist Komape-Ngwenya also moved to Johannesburg to seek work. In the mid-1970s she became one of the few senior women in the Metal and Allied Workers Union (MAWU).

She and other shop stewards were fired in 1976 for helping in organising the solidarity protest in the Soweto uprising. Komape-Ngwenya then got recruited on a full-time as a union organizer by MAWU.

In 1986 she returned to rural area and worked for Black Sash, and founded the Rural Women’s Movement (RWM) to attract greater attention to women’s issues in the negotiations to end apartheid. She used her experience to negotiate with tribal authorities for women’s involvement in socio-political participation of decision-making structures.

PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA GRANTS STRUGGLE HERO PROVINCIAL OFFICIAL FUNERAL CATEGORY 2

In 2009, President Kgalema Motlanthe awarded Komape-Ngwenya the Order of Luthuli in Bronze for her commitment to workers’ rights, the empowerment of rural women and the liberation of people from the hash arm of the apartheid government.

Post-1994, Komape-Ngwenya served at the National Assembly as a member of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs, a member of the Joint Monitoring Committee on Improvement of the Quality of Life and Status of Women and supported the passage of a maintenance Bill to grant legal recognition to customary marriages. She also served two terms as a member of the Limpopo Legislature until her retirement after the 2019 elections.

Premier of Limpopo Stanley Mathabatha has welcomed the decision to accord a Special Provincial Official Funeral.

“As a province and country, we have lost a giant, a woman and mother who fought endlessly for the emancipation of women at all costs. The Provincial Government conveys words of condolences to the family, friends and her comrades. Her star shall continue to shine bright in the sky with other fallen heroin and heroes of our struggle,” said Premier Mathabatha.

LYDIA KOMAPE-NGWENYA FUNERAL DETAILS

Date: 21 October 2023
Venue: Tsimanyane, Ephraim Mogale Local Municipality
Sekhukhune District Municipality
Time: 06:00

South Africa’s population grew to 62 million

South Africa’s population grew to 62 million

The latest Census results show that the South African population grew to 62 million in 2022, Stats SA announced the new population figures on Tuesday. 

The population of South Africa grew by 19,8 percentage points between 2011 and 2022. From 51,7 million persons in 2011 to 62 million persons in 2022. This is the largest percentage change in population size since 1996.

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The Black African population group constitutes the largest proportion of the South African population at 81,4%. They are followed by coloureds (8,2%), white (7,3%) and Indian/Asian (2,7%). 48,5% of the population is male and 51,5% is female.

Statistician-general Risenga Maluleke handed over the results to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

The latest Census results show that the South African population grew to 62 million in 2022,
President Cyril Ramaphosa

CENSUS RESULTS SHOW GROWTH IN SOUTH AFRICAN POPULATION

Gauteng remains the most popular province with 15 million while the Northern Cape is the most sparsely populated with only 1.3-million people.

 More than half of the country’s people [56%] live in three provinces: Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. 

Western Cape is now the third most populous province, up from fifth place in 2011.

Meanwhile, Limpopo is ranked fifth with 6 572 666 people, this is from 5 404 868 in 2011. 

Numbers per District

Capricorn – 1447103
Mopani – 1372873
Sekhukhune- 1336805
Vhembe- 1653022
Waterberg – 762862

LIMPOPO KEY STATS 

Young children (0-14 years) 31,6%

Working age population (15-64 years) 61,4%

Elderly (65+ years) 6,9%

No schooling (20+ years) 14,1%

Higher education (20+ years) 9,9%

Number of households 1 811 565

Normal dwellings 94,7%

Flush toilets connected to sewerage 35,2%

Weekly refuse disposal service 32,0%

Access to piped water in the dwelling 31,4%

Electricity for lighting 95,5%

Ramaphosa to launch border management authority in Musina

Ramaphosa to launch border management authority in Musina

President Cyril Ramaphosa has arrived in Musina where he will preside over the launch of the Border Management Authority [BMA] in Limpopo.

The launch of the BMA follows its formal establishment and assumption of its status as a schedule 3 (A) public entity on 1 April 2023.

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The establishment of the BMA means that South Africa now has an integrated border management platform, with a single command and control with which to support the attainment of secure borders, safe travel and trade.

President Cyril Ramaphosa to launch Border Management Authority
Beitbridge

As part of the launch, President Ramaphosa will receive President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa to hold official talks. Also to undertake a guided tour of the Beitbridge border, supported by members of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee (IMCC) on the BMA.

PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA TO LAUNCH BORDER MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY

The President will then proceed to officiate the launch of the BMA at the Musina Show Grounds. This will also include handing over a Sword to the Commissioner of the BMA to delegate the powers to lead the third law enforcement authority in the Republic.

Reserve Bank clears Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing on Phala Phala

Reserve Bank clears Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing on Phala Phala

The SA Reserve Bank has cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing with regard to the Phala Phala farm matter.

The reserve bank issued a statement on Monday following the finalisation of their investigation of the Limpopo-based farm. In their report, the SARB says the President did not contravene the exchange control regulations act.

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The investigation was launched on the back of the allegations by Arthur Fraser in June 2022.

Reserve Bank clears President Cyril Ramaphosa of any wrongdoing on the Phala Phala Farm matter 
The entrance to the Phala Phala game farm

RESERVE BANK CLEARS PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ON PHALA PHALA FARM MATTER

“On the facts available to it, the SARB finds that there was no perfected transaction,” said SARB.

“Thus the SARB cannot conclude that there was any contravention of the Exchange Control Regulations (the applicable Regulation is Regulation 6(1)) by Ntaba Nyoni Estates CC (the entity involved) or for that matter by the President.

“That is because the SARB has concluded that the transaction in question was subject to conditions precedent which were not fulfilled, and therefore there was no legal entitlement, within the meaning of Regulation (6)(1), on the part of Ntaba Nyoni Estates CC, to the foreign currency.”

The Governor will also provide feedback within the applicable legal constraints to Parliament. This will happen during the SARB’s upcoming engagement with Parliament.  

More to follow…

Ramaphosa addresses the nation ahead of BRICS Summit

Ramaphosa addresses the nation ahead of BRICS Summit

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday addressed the nation on South Africa’s Foreign Policy and the upcoming BRICS Summit. The BRICS countries will host a three-day summit starting on Tuesday in Sandton, Gauteng.

All the BRICS heads of state will be attending the summit in person, except for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin can’t travel to South Africa because he’s wanted by an international court for war crimes in Ukraine.

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WHAT IS BRICS?

BRICS is an acronym of the five members Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. It represents 23% of the world’s gross domestic product [GDP] and 42% of the world’s population.

It was formally launched in 2009 and it meets yearly at a summit hosted in rotation by one of the member countries. The meetings aim to assert their position, particularly in relation to the United States and the European Union.

President Cyril Ramaphosa with fellow BRICS Leaders
President Cyril Ramaphosa with fellow BRICS Leaders

It promotes the recognition of a multipolar global order with economic and political balance, with the aim of breaking away from organisations formed in the post-World War II era, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

BRICS has said they have sparked interest from 40 countries in joining the bloc.

Argentina, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are among the countries looking to join.

Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Gabon, and Kazakhstan have also expressed interest to join.

ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR THE SUMMIT AS PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA ADDRESSES DELEGATES

“This BRICS Summit is particularly important as it is being held as the world is confronted by fundamental challenges. That are bound to determine the course of international events for years to come,” said Ramaphosa.

“Our world has become increasingly complex and fractured as it is increasingly polarised into competing camps.

“Multilateralism is being replaced by the actions of different power blocs, all of which we trade with, invest with, and whose technology we use.”

“It is for this reason that South Africa continues to advocate for an open and rules-based global governance, trade, financial and investment system. It must be a system that does not depend on the exercise of power or unilateralism, but by the advancement of the interests of the peoples of the world.”  

President Cyril Ramaphosa buys Buran Bull for R3.5 million

President Cyril Ramaphosa buys Buran Bull for R3.5 million

Ntaba Nyoni Boran stud owned by President Cyril Ramaphosa bought a Buran bull for a record R3.5 million price at a Mpumalanga auction.

According to African Farming, the Bull named Jester went for the highest price for a Buran bull to date. The auction took place in Davel, Mpumalanga this past weekend.

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“The highest price yet for a Boran bull was achieved over the weekend at Hurwitz Farming’s ninth production auction,” announced African Farming. 

“The bull BH 18 490 Jester was sold to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Ntaba Nyoni Boran stud near Badplaas for R3.5 million. The average price for bulls was just over R1 million. Bull BH 18 123 Socrates being sold for more than R1 million,” they said. 

“Female animals also achieved high prices, with 3-in-1 cows selling for an average of just over R277 000. The highest price was R450 000 for BH 18 35 Dianna with a calf. The buyer was Mutanda Farms from Zambia.”

President Cyril Ramaphosa buys Buran Bull for R3.5 million
Ntaba Nyoni

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA BURRAN BULL GOES FOR R3.5 MILLION 

Boran cattle were originally bred in East Africa more than 1 000 years ago. They are known for being very well adapted to harsh conditions on the continent. The greatest attribute of the Boran is its fertility.

It consists of the following genetic proportions, 64% Bos indicus, 24% European Bos taurus and 12% African Bos taurus.

The total turnover of the same auction was about R24 million. Managing director of Hurwitz Farming, Simeon Hurwitz, paid tribute to his team for the success of the auction.

“From marketing, all the way through to the daily care of our animals, the people involved with Hurwitz Farming are like family to us,” he said.

“The same goes for our buyers, and we thank everyone, from our sponsors to our service providers and every breeder who supported us.”

The sale broke another record when 12 semen straws of Picasso were sold for R88 000 each. Picasso died last year when he was struck by lightning. The buyer committed to buying another 12 straws for R85 000 each.

SA to officially recognise sign Language as 12th Official Language

SA to officially recognise sign Language as 12th Official Language

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Wednesday sign into law a bill that will officially recognise sign Language as 12th Official Language. 

President Ramaphosa will sign the Bill in a ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. 

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On 02 May 2023, the National Assembly approved that Section 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 be amended to include South African Sign Language (SASL) as an official language to promote the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.

SIGN LANGUAGE TO BE RECOGNISED AS 12TH OFFICIAL LANGUAGE 

South Africa also becomes the fourth country on the African continent to recognise sign language as an official language. Other countries are Kenya, Zimbabwe and also Uganda. 

“The recognition of the SASL as the 12th official language is an important step towards the realisation of the rights of persons who are deaf or hard of hearing,” the presidency said on Tuesday

“South African Sign Language is an indigenous language that constitutes an important element of South African linguistic and cultural heritage. It has its own distinct grammatical structures and lexicon and it is independent of any other language.”

South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa will officially recognise sign Language as 12th Official Language
Sign language interpreter 

The new legislation also seeks to:

  1. Advance the cultural acceptance of SASL; 
  2. Ensure the realisation of the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing to equal protection and benefit of the law and human dignity; and 
  3. Promote inclusive and substantive equality and prevent or eliminate unfair discrimination on the grounds of disability. As guaranteed by Section 9 of the Constitution.

The event will take place between 15:00 – 16:00.