The trial of three individuals accused of stealing $580,000 hidden in a couch at President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala game farm has begun in the Bela-Bela Magistrate's Court, reigniting a scandal that nearly derailed his presidency and raising questions about the origins of the cash.

Defendants Imanuwela David, Ndilinasho Joseph, and his sister Froliana Joseph, a former housekeeper at the farm, face charges of housebreaking, theft, and conspiracy stemming from the February 2020 incident. All pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors expect the three-week proceedings to feature 20 witnesses, including farm staff, as the case – dubbed "Farmgate" – returns to the spotlight three years after it first erupted.

The theft came to light in June 2022 when Arthur Fraser, former head of the State Security Agency and an ally of Ramaphosa's predecessor Jacob Zuma, filed a police report accusing the president of hiding $4 million in the furniture and using his security detail to bribe the thieves into silence. Ramaphosa maintained the money stemmed from a legitimate buffalo sale and reported the break-in to his protection unit, though he delayed formal notification. Investigations by police and financial authorities cleared him of wrongdoing, including money laundering and tax evasion, while an anti-corruption watchdog found no conflict of interest.

Parliament debated impeachment in December 2022 but rejected it 214-148, allowing Ramaphosa to secure re-election in May 2024 despite the African National Congress losing its majority for the first time. The party now leads a coalition government, with Democratic Alliance senior Helen Zille suggesting it shields Ramaphosa from further probes.