Two years ago, residents at Olukekete village in northern Namibia began asking each other who was funding the major renovations of the traditional homestead where Imanuwela David grew up.
It was transformed from a small structure to an electrified house.
A new building, two lodges and flush toilets were built. The village also noticed that David was driving a Mercedes-Benz SUV.
David, 35, is accused of being the mastermind behind the February 2020 heist of an estimated $4m (about R63m) in cash from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo.
He was named with four other Namibians, Umbanus Shaumbwako, Petrus Muhekeni, Erkki Shikongo and Petrus Afrikaner, in a statement by former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser to police two weeks ago.
The village homestead belongs to Mwaambange Shikunda, an elder at Olukekete village in the Omusati region, about 15km from the town of Outapi.
Villagers, who spoke to The Namibian newspaper and know the Olukekete homestead, this week said the property had in 2020 been transformed.
“Residents of the village were surprised and started asking each other questions as to who was behind the upgrading of the house.
“It was a major upgrade and everybody was shocked, because the house was looked down upon. Only one person in the house is employed. Later on the story of the robbery surfaced,” a village resident said.
The construction of the house has become the subject of a police investigation. According to a police report on David, compiled by the former head of the police's criminal investigations directorate, commissioner Nelius Becker, in June 2020, a 12-room building was constructed.
In the report, Becker suggested that police should approach Shikunda and ask who was funding the construction at her homestead.
David was arrested on June 14 2020 for allegedly illegally crossing into Namibia via the Orange River at Rooiwal, near Noordoewer.
Namibian police said that he had been helped by a police officer from the tourism subdivision at Lüdertiz, who also helped him get to Windhoek.
David was arrested at the 77 on Independence apartment block in Independence Avenue in Windhoek, and was found in possession of N$300 (Namibian dollars), US$1,100, four cellphones and a Rolex watch.
He had been living in SA with his mother, Amalia Haunaunye, and late father, Libolius David since 2005.
He allegedly failed grade 10 in 2001. Five years later he joined the SA National Defence Force as a border guard, and later resigned from the army.
Before the Phala Phala burglary, David allegedly owned an old VW Polo. He allegedly started driving flashy cars after the robbery. According to the police's report, David “had no money before”.
It also stated that after he “stole” the money he went to settle in Cape Town.
Reporters have been unable to locate David.
Police said that David's alleged co-conspirator in the Phala Phala burglary, Erkki Shikongo, bought a lodge at Outapi. The lodge was previously owned by Immanuel Shaduka, a businessman and mechanic in the town.
The lodge, named Amandla Guest House, was bought for N$800,000 in March 2020.
Police said that it was bought through the principal of John Pandeni Combined School, Simeon Haihambo, known as “Tafulele”.
Only one person in the house is employed. Later on the story of the robbery surfaced
— A village resident
The police said that the principal also bought a Toyota Land Cruiser “on behalf of the criminal group”.
Haihambo on Thursday denied any wrongdoing, saying he was an agent of the previous owner and started advertising the lodge in 2019.
“In 2019, I was approached by Shaduka to help him sell the lodge. I put it on my Facebook page. In March 2020, while I was on my way from Windhoek, I was called by someone from my village, and he told me Shooya (Shikongo) seemed to have money and wanted to buy the lodge,” Haihambo said.
He said he told the person to organise a meeting with Shikongo, whom Haihambo said he grew up with, though they were not close friends.
Haihambo said he took Shikongo to the previous owner and the two agreed on the sale of the property. Haihambo told The Namibian he was also asked by Shikongo to buy a bakkie to transport sewage from the lodge, as it was not connected to a sewerage system.
“From there Shikongo went to SA and transferred N$800,000 from his own account to the seller.
“At the time I told Shikongo about a [Land Cruiser] for sale, and he bought it ... for N$165,000,” Haihambo said. He and Shikongo met in Windhoek in March 2020 to buy the car.
He denied knowing the money was stolen.
According to Fraser, Ramaphosa called Namibian President Hage Geingob to hunt down the suspects who had fled from SA to Namibia. Geingob has denied this.
Haihambo said that he was interviewed by the Namibian police with SA undercover police in 2020.
“They were here at Outapi, but the story just died. I heard some of the money was confiscated,” he said.
Haihambo said he did not want his name to appear in the newspaper, and if The Namibian reported unprofessionally “we will act, we are not small boys”.
Omusati police commissioner Titus Shikongo yesterday declined to comment, referring questions to headquarters.
Omusati region's head of crime investigations, deputy commissioner Moses Simaho, yesterday confirmed that he investigated the case, but said he would not share any details on it, as it would “jeopardise my career and life”.
In the wake of the farm robbery, Becker outlined in his report how the Namibian police would conduct the investigation and who would be interviewed.
Police chief inspector-general Sebastian Ndeitunga removed Becker from the Criminal Investigations Unit a month after he released his report. Becker is now heading the National Forensic Science Institute of Namibia. He declined to comment.
Ndeitunga was not reachable for comment. His deputy, Joseph Shikongo, said that it was a South African matter. “I am not involved.”
— The Namibian
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