Phala Phala trial: Cellphone data analyst to be cross-examined

The Phala Phala burglary case resumes on Friday with the state's witness a cellphone data analyst, set for intense cross-examination. 

Imanuwela David along with siblings Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph, are charged with breaking and entering into President Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm and stealing US$580,000 in cash.

They will be appearing today before the Modimolle Regional Court in Limpopo. Using Google mapping and data from network towers, the cellphone analyst was able to track the movements of the alleged Phala Phala burglars before, during, and after the break-in. 

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The analyst cannot be named due to a standing order to not disclose the identities of witnesses in this matter.

The analyst testified in court that the burglars all met at the Bela Bela CBD on the day of the robbery.

He also told the court their phones were pinged near the Phala Phala farm at the time of the break-in. 

"The handsets with cellphone numbers associated with these individuals activated cellphone towers in the vicinity of Phala Phala Farm around the same times."

The defence is expected to try and poke holes in the analyst's testimony.