Africa-Press – Namibia. SHELLEYGAN PETERSEN and ELIASER NDEYANALE
IMANUWELA David, the alleged mastermind of the Phala Phala farm theft, told the Noordoewer Magistrate’s Court he is a property developer based in Johannesburg.
He also revealed in court that he served in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as a soldier.
During his time in the army, he did peacekeeping work in Abu Dhabi, Iraq, Mali, and Libya, he said.
These details are contained in court documents made public by minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Albert Kawana in the National Assembly yesterday.
This follows the Ministry of Justice stating it is in possession of a receipt from the courier DHL, confirming that a request for assistance was sent to the ministry’s counterparts in South Africa.
According to the documents, David, who is the father of three children aged 12, eight and three, completed matric in 2002.
David, Urbanus Shaumbwako, Petrus Muhekeni, Erkki Shikongo, and Petrus Afrikaner are accused of breaking into Ramphosa’s farmhouse and stealing N$60 million hidden in furniture.
The incident took place at Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm in February 2020.
David was arrested in Windhoek after he entered Namibia from South Africa via the Orange River near Noordoewer.
According to the charge sheet, David failed to declare goods upon his person or in his possession which he brought with him into Namibia.
David was reportedly in possession of US$1 100 (N$17 000), a Tag Heuer watch valued at N$28 000, a Rolex watch worth N$280 000, and a necklace valued at N$163 000.
The police say David was aided to cross into Namibia by police officer Hendrik Nghete from the tourism subdivision at Lüdertiz, who also assisted him to get to Windhoek.
Former Fishcor acting chief executive officer (CEO) Paulus Ngalangi reportedly transported David to Windhoek with his BMW X5 from Noordoewer.
JUSTICE RECEIPTS
Justice ministry spokesperson Simon Idipo on Wednesday confirmed that the ministry sent a request for assistance to South Africa, and told The Namibian it is in possession of this receipt.
“We even have the receipt from DHL that they got it,” he said.
This comes after two South African authorities denied receiving any request from Namibian authorities in relation to the Farmgate saga.
The South African justice department, as well as the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) have denied receiving any request from the Namibian Police in connection with president Cyril Ramaphosa’s U$S4 million (about N$64 million) farm theft saga.
Justice minister Yvonne Dausab recently told The New York Times that the ministry drafted a request for help establishing the sources of the suspects’ funds and whether they were derived from unlawful activities.
“On 14 Aug 2020, the Namibia High Commission in South Africa delivered the request to the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation to be forwarded to the Justice Department, Ms Dausab said. South African officials never responded, she said,” the article reads.
Idipo said the ministry is currently consulting South Africa, as well as the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation and the Namibian Police before it would issue a statement.
Questions sent to executive director of international relations and cooperation Penda Naanda and spokesperson Bertha Amakali went unanswered at the time of going to print.
Safety and security minister Albert Kawana said allegations that David was abducted with the knowledge of Geingob are “defamatory, malicious, and politically motivated”.
“No person was kidnapped or abducted from Namibia in furtherance of a foreign request which violated Namibian laws,” Kawana said.
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