MBOMBELA – Mr Mthobisi Lenox Ngwenyama, who escaped from court while facing four charges of poaching and robbery, appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court yesterday for the murder of KaBokweni detective Const Joseph Baloyi. He caused quite a stir when he showed up in a red shirt bearing the title “Detective”on the back. He is now facing seven charges in total.
Ngwenyama and three other prisoners made headlines when they escaped from prison on May 13. They overpowered a court orderly and fled in different directions. Ngwenyama’s escape was successful while the other three were apprehended.
Read more on his escape: Prisoner reportedly escapes from Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court
A week later, the investigating officer in one of the cases against Ngwenyama was murdered. Baloyi was killed in his vehicle at his house in KaBokweni late one afternoon. Eyewitnesses provided the police with a description that fitted that of Ngwenyama.
Read more on the alleged murder and Ngwenyama’s arrest
The Hawks’ investigation revealed that Ngwenyama had more names on his hit list, including that of members of the Hawks. The threat that he posed for them was contained when he was rearrested on Wednesday morning. Acting Hawks’ head Maj Gen Mthandazo Ntlemeza revealed that Ngwenyama was found hiding at his cousin’s abandoned house in Tshabalala Trust Village in Hazyview around 02:00 on Wednesday.
On that day, he was facing charges of housebreaking, theft, robbery and robbery with aggravating circumstances. The crimes were all allegedly committed in KaBokweni. Ngwenyama and four other men were also arrested and charged with the poaching of Sabi, a rhino calf, in his boma in Care for Wild Africa in 2014.
According to Ngwenyama’s attorney, Mr Vusi Segodi, he was charged with murder on Friday. When he appeared in court in Mbombela yesterday, he was also charged with escaping from custody. The accused was summoned to return to the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on June 26. The case against him in KaBokweni will continue on July 7. He will not apply for bail.
