TIMELINE: Phala Phala burglary trial gets underway

The 2020 burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm put the spotlight on the country's number one citizen. Around $580,000 or over R10 million was stolen from the farm.

Three suspects are back at the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo. Immanuela David and siblings Floriana and Ndilinasho Joseph are in the dock for the robbery.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS

February 2020 Robbery takes place at President's farm

President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm in near Bela-Bela, Limpopo, is robbed.

1 June 2022 Arthur Fraser opens criminal case against Ramaphosa linked to alleged robbery

Former State Security Agency director-general Arthur Fraser opens a case against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

2 June 2022Presidency denies claim that Ramaphosa broke the law by concealing information

President Cyril Ramaphosa denies allegations that he broke the law by concealing information relating to a robbery at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo in February 2020.

22 December 2022 MPs who defied ANC on Phala Phala report vote to be disciplined - Mbalula

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said that the five members of Parliament who defied the party by voting to adopt the Section 89 panel report would be disciplined by the new leadership.

24 January 2023 Public Protector completes investigation on Phala Phala

The Public Protector's probe into the events that transpired on the president’s Phala Phala farm is completed.

The Public Protector's office investigated whether Cyril Ramaphosa may have violated the Executive Ethics Code in relation to the theft of thousands of US dollars on his Limpopo farm, at the request of the African Transformation Movement.

22 May 2023 Ramaphosa drops legal challenge to Section 89 Phala Phala report

President Cyril Ramaphosa has dropped his legal challenge to the Section 89 Phala Phala report.

30 June 2023 Phala Phala report: Ramaphosa absolved of any wrongdoing

Then-Acting Public Protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka exonerates President Cyril Ramaphosa from any wrongdoing in the Phala Phala farm scandal, but has found the police wanting in their handling of the 2020 burglary at the Limpopo farm.

8 February 2024 EFF approaches ConCourt to overturn Parly's decision not to adopt PhalaPhala report

The Economic Freedom Fighters approaches the Constitutional Court in an effort to overturn Parliament's decision not to adopt the Section 89 panel’s report into the Phala Phala farm burglary.

20 May 2024 Ramaphosa paying back money stolen from Phala Phala to Sudanese businessman, Mustafa

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is in the process of paying back the stolen Phala Phala money to Sudanese businessman, Hazim Mustafa.

10 October 2024 Ramaphosa won't be prosecuted for Phala Phala, confirms NPA

President Cyril Ramaphosa will not face corruption and money laundering charges in the Phala Phala saga after the Director of Public Prosecutions in Limpopo declined to prosecute the matter against the head of state.

26 November 2024 EFF believes Parly, NPA protecting Ramaphosa from accounting on Phala Phala saga

26 November 2024 EFF believes Parly, NPA protecting Ramaphosa from accounting on Phala Phala saga

Thousands of EFF supporters on Tuesday picketed outside the Constitutional Court, where the EFF wants to have Parliament’ handling of the Phala Phala matter declared unlawful.

05 March 2025 IPID report into Phala Phala saga top secret, won’t be made public ‑ Mchunu

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says an Independent Police Investigative Directorate report into the Phala Phala saga has been declared top secret and won’t be made public.

19 May 2025 NPA files extradition request for 2 Namibians linked to Phala Phala burglary

The National Prosecuting Authority has filed an extradition request to the Namibian government for two suspects linked to the burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm.

19 May 2025 Trial into burglary postponed because of accused's pregnancy

The trial into the burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm has been postponed due to one of the accused, Froliana Joseph's pregnancy.

16 September 2025 Phala Phala: Cachalia defends top-secret classification of report into police officers' conduct

Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has defended the top-secret classification of a report into the conduct of police officers involved in a covert operation to get back thousands of US dollars stolen from the presidents Phala Phala farm.

05 March 2025 IPID report into Phala Phala saga top secret, won't be made public ‑ Mchunu 

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu says an Independent Police Investigative Directorate report into the Phala Phala saga has been declared top secret and won’t be made public.  

19 May 2025 NPA files extradition request for 2 Namibians linked to Phala Phala burglary 

The National Prosecuting Authority has filed an extradition request to the Namibian government for two suspects linked to the burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm.  

19 May 2025 Trial into burglary postponed because of accused's pregnancy 

The trial into the burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm has been postponed due to one of the accused, Froliana Joseph's pregnancy. 

16 September 2025 Phala Phala: Cachalia defends top-secret classification of report into police officers' conduct 

Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has defended the top-secret classification of a report into the conduct of police officers involved in a covert operation to get back thousands of US dollars stolen from the president's Phala Phala farm.