President Ramaphosa will soon be returning back to the National Assembly to answer outstanding questions on his Phala Phala break-in and theft. Picture: Phando Jikelo/African News Agency (ANA)
Cape Town - One of the men mentioned in the damning affidavit by former State Security boss Arthur Fraser on the million dollar heist at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm, will have to wait until later this month for a decision on whether he will be granted protective custody.
Urbanus Shaumbwako appeared in the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday, where he was charged with 12 counts of illegal possession of firearms and one count of reckless driving in relation to another matter.
NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the case had been on the roll since his arrest in October 2020. His bail bid and an appeal had failed.
According to Fraser’s affidavit, Shaumbwako was among the four men behind the break-in and theft at Ramaphosa’s farm in February 2020 where they reportedly made off with about $4m concealed in furniture.
The suspects, mostly from Namibia, apparently spent their loot in Cape Town on luxury cars, after having the foreign currency exchanged at an unregistered Chinese establishment.
According to Ntabazalila, attempts by Shaumbwako’s lawyer to link his safety concerns to the Phala Phala incident were objected to by the State.
“The defence brought arguments linking the case to Phala Phala, but the State objected as the claims made by the defence were irrelevant to the matter before the court. The defence brought an application for their client to be placed in protective custody and for them to have access to parts of the docket,” he said.
Shaumbwako’s lawyer, Reon Heckrath had alleged that the Hawks wanted to consult his client and had him moved from his cell. He further claimed that alleged mastermind in the Phala Phala matter and friend of Shaumbwako, Imanuwela David had been shot in Johannesburg last week.
However the State “emphasised that the accused appeared at this court on the charges against him and nothing else”, hence they opposed the application for protective custody, Ntabazalila said.
“We opposed it saying that a proper application needed to be brought before court and to allow the State an opportunity to respond. The court agreed with us, cautioning against ambushing the State.”
Hawks spokesperson Thandi Mbambo said they took note of the statement made during the court appearance.
“We deny insinuations made by the lawyer and if need be, the Hawks will testify in court to set the record straight,” Mbambo said.
The matter for protective custody was postponed to September 30, while the case relating to the illegal firearms was also set for trial on December 8 and 9.
Ramaphosa will soon be returning back to the National Assembly to answer outstanding questions on his Phala Phala break-in and theft.
On Thursday, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula said she would write to Ramaphosa to ask him to provide a date for his reappearance.
“Honourable members, as you are aware, I cannot make a determination on the availability of he president.
“I am not the one who runs his diary, so I will just write to the president and I would expect that the president will then respond and advise on a date for his availability,” Mapisa-Nqakula said.
Mapisa-Nqakula was forced to adjourn the question and answer session on Tuesday when opposition parties insisted that Ramaphosa indicate whether he would take the nation into his confidence on the Phala Phala Farmgate scandal after he said he was advised to address the matter when investigations were completed.
Supplementary questions on the scandal were not asked when Mapisa-Nqakula adjourned the sitting and referred the matter to the forum of chief whips.
ANC deputy chief whip Doris Dlakude said the ANC felt it should not step away from the rules.
Cape Times
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