Phala Phala: Zuma’s party springs to Shaumbwako’s defence
South Africa’s official opposition party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), has alleged that Namibian national Urbanus Shaumbwako, who is serving a 20-year jail term in that country, was arrested on 'cooked up' charges and made to sign a non-disclosure agreement in order to cover up the theft of millions of dollars from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in early 2020.
The left-wing populist party, composed mostly of Ramaphosa’s detractors, says it will explore the private prosecution route to ensure that the South African president is held accountable in connection with the trans-border scandal, which has also spilled into the Namibian political space.
The South African presidency confirmed that during the burglary that occurred at Ramaphosa's farm in February 2020, Shaumbwako, together with other Namibians, allegedly stole around $4 million (about N$70 million at yesterday’s exchange rate).
Authorities in South Africa investigated whether there was prima facie evidence of criminal activity at Phala Phala farm, including possible tax evasion and money laundering, that could result in the parliamentary impeachment of Ramaphosa.
Earlier this month, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced it has decided not to prosecute Ramaphosa – or anyone – in relation to the case.
Prison meeting
This has infuriated many in that country, not least the MK Party, whose leader Jacob Zuma remains on collision course with his successor, Ramaphosa.
MK Party’s chief whip in parliament, Mzwanele Manyi, this week said: "During my prison tour, I met someone I had seen in Namibian news, Urbanus Shaumbwako, whose name surfaced in media reports about the Phala Phala robbery at President Ramaphosa's farmhouse. Urbanus is not serving time for the Phala Phala robbery but for unrelated, cooked-up offences, namely reckless driving, possession of unlicensed firearms and defeating the ends of justice.”
He added: “All these charges were allegedly discovered during a mysterious roadblock on a Sunday afternoon. He is serving a 20-year sentence.”
Manyi said: “Urbanus shared disturbing details about his arrest. He described months of surveillance, random searches and raids leading up to his arrest. More alarmingly, he confirmed that his legal team was approached by Dr Bejani Chauke, the president's former advisor, to ensure that the Phala Phala robbery would not be used as a defence.
“He was offered a plea deal promising early release and financial compensation in exchange. He also signed non-disclosure agreements preventing him from discussing the robbery,” Manyi claimed.
Ongoing matter
Shaumbwako (41) was sentenced to 20 years in the Cape Town Regional Court in April on charges ranging from possession of prohibited firearms to defeating the ends of justice and reckless driving.
In August, three others facing charges linked to the Phala Phala theft farm appeared in the Modimolle regional court.
Namibian citizen Imanuwela David, accused of masterminding the theft, remains in custody after being denied bail last year. David is charged alongside siblings Froliana Joseph, a former domestic worker at the Ramaphosa farm, and her brother, Ndilinasho Joseph. Ndilinasho and Froliana were granted bail in November 2023.
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The left-wing populist party, composed mostly of Ramaphosa’s detractors, says it will explore the private prosecution route to ensure that the South African president is held accountable in connection with the trans-border scandal, which has also spilled into the Namibian political space.
The South African presidency confirmed that during the burglary that occurred at Ramaphosa's farm in February 2020, Shaumbwako, together with other Namibians, allegedly stole around $4 million (about N$70 million at yesterday’s exchange rate).
Authorities in South Africa investigated whether there was prima facie evidence of criminal activity at Phala Phala farm, including possible tax evasion and money laundering, that could result in the parliamentary impeachment of Ramaphosa.
Earlier this month, South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) announced it has decided not to prosecute Ramaphosa – or anyone – in relation to the case.
Prison meeting
This has infuriated many in that country, not least the MK Party, whose leader Jacob Zuma remains on collision course with his successor, Ramaphosa.
MK Party’s chief whip in parliament, Mzwanele Manyi, this week said: "During my prison tour, I met someone I had seen in Namibian news, Urbanus Shaumbwako, whose name surfaced in media reports about the Phala Phala robbery at President Ramaphosa's farmhouse. Urbanus is not serving time for the Phala Phala robbery but for unrelated, cooked-up offences, namely reckless driving, possession of unlicensed firearms and defeating the ends of justice.”
He added: “All these charges were allegedly discovered during a mysterious roadblock on a Sunday afternoon. He is serving a 20-year sentence.”
Manyi said: “Urbanus shared disturbing details about his arrest. He described months of surveillance, random searches and raids leading up to his arrest. More alarmingly, he confirmed that his legal team was approached by Dr Bejani Chauke, the president's former advisor, to ensure that the Phala Phala robbery would not be used as a defence.
“He was offered a plea deal promising early release and financial compensation in exchange. He also signed non-disclosure agreements preventing him from discussing the robbery,” Manyi claimed.
Ongoing matter
Shaumbwako (41) was sentenced to 20 years in the Cape Town Regional Court in April on charges ranging from possession of prohibited firearms to defeating the ends of justice and reckless driving.
In August, three others facing charges linked to the Phala Phala theft farm appeared in the Modimolle regional court.
Namibian citizen Imanuwela David, accused of masterminding the theft, remains in custody after being denied bail last year. David is charged alongside siblings Froliana Joseph, a former domestic worker at the Ramaphosa farm, and her brother, Ndilinasho Joseph. Ndilinasho and Froliana were granted bail in November 2023.
[email protected]
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