A Cape Town businessman has been identified as part of a network that allegedly traced suspects linked to the theft of US dollars at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. At the same time, the same man has surfaced in a separate sworn affidavit alleging illegal cellphone tracing and GPS surveillance activities related to investigations into the theft.
Former intelligence boss Arthur Fraser’s supplementary submission to his Phala Phala complaint affidavit lists businessman Karl Lars Magnusson as a participant in the alleged clandestine tracking of suspects in a bid to recover the $500 000 stolen from the president, in a matter now subject to a Parliamentary impeachment process.
On his LinkedIn profile, Magnusson records that he previously served as board chairperson of the Dr BF Chauke Foundation, established by Ramaphosa’s political adviser, Dr Bejani Chauke, who is also listed as a participant in the secret search for the Phala Phala suspects.
Records also confirm Fraser’s claim that Magnusson lives in Ramaphosa’s neighbourhood in Fresnaye in Cape Town.
Magnusson has strongly denied any wrongdoing, despite being named in the signed submissions Fraser delivered to the Hawks after meeting investigators on June 15, 2022, over the burglary at the Limpopo game farm in Bela Bela.
And while Magnusson had questioned the authenticity and evidentiary value of Fraser’s supplementary submission to the Hawks, the publication confirmed with Fraser’s lawyers that the document was legit and handed to the Hawks following a meeting on June 15, 2022, which was widely publicised and officially confirmed by the elite crime-fighting unit.
This week Western Cape police spokesperson Colonel André Traut confirmed that Pretoria forensic practitioner Calvin Rafadi had approached police in 2023 with allegations involving Magnusson and others but said the matter fell outside the province’s jurisdiction.
In his submission, Fraser alleged that Magnusson “assisted in the pinging of persons alleged to have broken into the president’s residence and actively participated in their subsequent torture”.
According to Fraser, Major-Gen Wally Rhoode, head of Ramaphosa’s presidential protection unit, assembled a network of police officers, intelligence-linked figures, business associates and private individuals after the burglary. Fraser alleged that state resources and unofficial networks were used to track suspects between Limpopo, Cape Town and Namibia.
Evidence pieced together through an investigation conducted by police watchdog Ipid shows that after the February 2020 burglary, Rhoode allegedly ran a parallel, off-the-books investigation to trace the suspects instead of opening a formal police docket.
According to Ipid, Rhoode and his team tracked the suspects, of Namibian origin, across borders to the neighbouring country. It’s alleged he and the team travelled to Namibia in June 2020 in pursuit of two siblings – Froliana Joseph and Ndilinasho David Joseph – who were suspected of involvement in the theft.
This cross-border pursuit was reportedly done without coordination with Namibian authorities, raising questions about the legality of the operation.
Despite Ipid and the Public Protector recommending disciplinary action, both Rhoode and Sergeant Hlulani Rekhoto (another officer allegedly involved) were cleared in internal SAPS proceedings in 2024.
Sunday World independently fact-checked parts of Rafadi’s sworn affidavit and related supporting documents. Commissioned before a police officer in March 2023, Rafadi alleged that Magnusson and entities allegedly linked to him were involved in illegal tracing operations.
Rafadi alleged that Magnusson “managed to register for a PSIRA (Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority) grade A licence under the name and traded identity of a close corporation called ‘Diplomatic Protection Unit’.” He further alleged that people who borrowed money from a company called Sun Finance South Africa would have their vehicles fitted with tracking devices and that cellphone tracing was used to locate debtors and repossess vehicles.
Sunday World also verified parts of Rafadi’s affidavit through company and tracing records attached to the submission. Those records include PSIRA registration details reflecting Magnusson’s link to the Diplomatic Protection Unit.
CIPC records also show that Magnusson previously served as a director of the Diplomatic Protection Unit before resigning in August 2024. Additional records reviewed by Sunday World further link Magnusson to entities named in the affidavit, including CPL Finance and the Diplomatic Protection Unit.
Responding to Sunday World, Magnusson denied wrongdoing. He further said, “I further note that the affidavit by Ratlhogo Peter Calvin Rafadi appears to have been signed in 2023.
“However, despite the passage of time, I have never been contacted, questioned, approached, or asked to provide a statement by SAPS, the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, or Presidential Protection Services in relation to the allegations in that document.”
Magnusson also warned against defamatory implications. “Should Sunday World publish any reference to me, I request that my denial be recorded fully and fairly and that no implication or insinuation be made that I have been investigated, questioned, charged, or found to have committed any unlawful act where no such facts exist.
Parliament is in the process of setting up an impeachment inquiry after the Constitutional Court set aside results of a December 2022 vote by MPs in the National Assembly which rejected the findings of a Section 89 Panel report which concluded Ramaphosa should face possible impeachment over the handling of the saga.
- A Cape Town businessman is implicated in tracking suspects linked to the theft of US dollars at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm.
- The businessman is also mentioned in a sworn affidavit alleging illegal cellphone tracking and GPS surveillance.
- The surveillance activities are connected to the broader investigation into the Phala Phala theft case.
- The article suggests involvement of unauthorized methods in monitoring individuals related to the theft.
- Full detailed coverage is available in the Sunday World e-edition.
A Cape Town businessman has been identified as part of a network that allegedly traced suspects linked to the theft of US dollars at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. At the same time, the same man has surfaced in a separate sworn affidavit alleging illegal cellphone tracing and GPS surveillance activities related to investigations into the theft.
Former intelligence boss
On his LinkedIn profile, Magnusson records that he previously served as board chairperson of the Dr BF Chauke
Records also confirm Fraser’s claim that Magnusson lives in Ramaphosa’s neighbourhood in Fresnaye in Cape Town.
Magnusson has strongly denied any wrongdoing, despite being named in the signed submissions Fraser delivered to the Hawks after meeting investigators on June 15, 2022, over the burglary at the Limpopo game farm in Bela Bela.
In his submission, Fraser alleged that Magnusson “assisted in the pinging of persons alleged to have broken into the president’s residence and actively participated in their subsequent torture”.
Evidence pieced together through an investigation conducted by police watchdog Ipid shows that after the February 2020 burglary, Rhoode allegedly ran a parallel, off-the-books investigation to trace the suspects instead of opening a formal police docket.
Despite Ipid and the Public Protector recommending disciplinary action, both Rhoode and Sergeant
Rafadi alleged that Magnusson “managed to register for a PSIRA (Private Security
CIPC records also show that Magnusson previously served as a director of the Diplomatic Protection Unit before resigning in August 2024. Additional records reviewed by
“However, despite the passage of time, I have never been contacted, questioned, approached, or asked to provide a statement by SAPS, the Hawks, Crime Intelligence, or Presidential Protection Services in relation to the allegations in that document.”
Magnusson also warned against defamatory implications. “
Parliament is in the process of setting up an impeachment inquiry after the Constitutional Court set aside results of a
