The Phala Phala Case has returned to the national spotlight after the Gauteng High Court dismissed a private prosecution bid against President Cyril Ramaphosa. This recent ruling not only clears the president from further legal scrutiny in this matter, but also penalises the accusers for procedural failures.
Background: What Sparked the Phala Phala Case?
The Phala Phala Case dates back to February 2020, when $580,000 (approximately R10 million) in cash was allegedly stolen from President Ramaphosa’s private game farm in Limpopo. The money, paid by Sudanese businessman Hazim Mustafa for 20 buffaloes, was hidden inside a sofa.
The case only surfaced in June 2022 when former spy boss Arthur Fraser laid a criminal complaint. Since then, the issue has raised questions around foreign currency handling, reporting protocols, and executive accountability.
Read more in our detailed report: Phala Phala Trial: Witness Explains Cash Hidden in Ramaphosa’s Couch
High Court Ruling: Phala Phala Case Dismissed in Pretoria
On 2 September 2025, Acting Judge Jacques Minnaar of the Gauteng High Court dismissed the latest attempt to prosecute Ramaphosa. The application was brought by the Society for the Protection of Our Constitution, a little-known organisation that sought to compel the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to summon Ramaphosa under the Criminal Procedure Act.
However, the court found that the society had no legal basis for its application, especially after it had already withdrawn the matter in July 2023.
“No shred of justification is provided for why the main application was indeed brought and then withdrawn,” stated Judge Minnaar.
Legal Consequences for the Accusers
The court ordered that the society must pay President Ramaphosa’s legal costs, despite being a civil society group. This decision overrides the Biowatch principle, which normally protects non-state actors in constitutional litigation.
Ramaphosa’s legal team had warned that if the group continued with its baseless application, it would argue it should not benefit from such protections.
The ruling reflects growing judicial frustration with politically motivated or procedurally flawed litigation targeting public officials.
Ongoing Trial of the Burglars
While the president has now been cleared in both public and private legal forums, the trial of the alleged burglars continues in the Modimolle Regional Court.
Three accused, Imanuwela David and siblings Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph, have pleaded not guilty. Charges include theft, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit housebreaking.
In a recent court session, a former lodge manager testified that he moved the money from a safe to a sofa in the president’s house, believing it would be secure there.
“I then took the money to the house of Mr Ramaphosa… the whole house has cameras,” the witness said.
Public Reactions and Political Fallout
Despite the ruling, critics argue that the broader issues of transparency and ethical governance remain unresolved. Opposition parties have expressed concern over the president’s decision to alert his security detail rather than the police following the 2020 burglary.
Moreover, critics question the legal consistency between the Independent Panel’s prima facie findings (2022) and the Public Protector and NPA decisions that followed.
“There is no accountability, no taking responsibility, and no consequence,” said political analyst Professor Sipho Seepe.
Read more about the Tembisa Hospital Fraud Investigation links to Ramaphosa’s nephew.
Expert Commentary: A Test of Institutional Trust
The dismissal of the Phala Phala case highlights the gaps in public trust toward South Africa’s democratic institutions. While the NPA and the Public Protector found no prosecutable evidence or ethics violations, the public narrative remains divided.
Legal scholars suggest that this case sets a precedent in limiting civil society’s ability to compel prosecution, especially when procedural irregularities exist.
According to constitutional law expert Professor Pierre de Vos:
“Courts will protect rights, but they will not entertain legally incompetent or strategic litigation with no merit.”
What Happens Next?
As of 17 September 2025, the Phala Phala case is dismissed. The Modimolle Regional Court dismissed the charges against the three accused, Imanuwela David and siblings Froliana and Ndilinasho Joseph, citing insufficient evidence to support the state’s case.
The judgment brings an end to a legal saga that has dominated headlines since 2022. With both the private prosecution and the criminal trial now dismissed, President Ramaphosa emerges legally vindicated.
