Mpumalanga High Court grants bail for murder-accused Sonell Joubert
The Mpumalanga High Court has granted bail of R15 000 to murder-accused Sonell Joubert, imposing strict conditions to ensure compliance as her case progresses.
The Mpumalanga Division of the High Court has granted bail to murder-accused Sonell Joubert, overturning the Tonga Magistrate’s Court’s earlier decision to deny her release.
Joubert (43) was granted bail of R15 000 with strict conditions in a judgment that was delivered today.
She must attend all court appearances, report to the Tonga Police Station twice a week, notify authorities of any address changes, remain within the district unless permitted and avoid contact with state witnesses.
Should she fail to comply, a warrant for her arrest will be issued immediately, and her bail money will be forfeited to the state.
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Joubert had appealed her bail refusal, which was initially denied on February 24.
The appeal hearing, presided over by Justice J Vukeya on May 22, revealed inconsistencies in documentation that resulted in the judge to requesting a supplementary affidavit from Joubert’s legal representative, Adv Hennie van Rensburg. Judgment was reserved until today.
Throughout her case, Joubert has switched attorneys multiple times, including appointing Johannesburg-based lawyer Marco Lamberti, who later withdrew due to non-payment.
Joubert is accused of fatally stabbing Jurgens Nel at Lowhills Farm in the Nkomazi region in early February.
On February 1, she approached the KaMhlushwa police, alleging Nel had violated a protection order that she had instituted against him. That night, officers visited the farm but did not directly confront Nel, as Joubert and her life partner, Johann Möller, claimed he was armed and aggressive.
According to Van Rensburg, officers remained at the premises from 22:00 to 02:00, observing Nel moving through the house, switching lights on and off.
Two days later, on February 3, a group of eight officers, led by investigating officer Sergeant Bonginkosi Given Nguyuza, returned to Lowhills Farm.
Upon retrieving the keys from Joubert and Möller, they entered the house, discovering Nel’s body with six stab wounds to the upper body.
When questioned, Joubert told police she had stabbed Nel during a fight, in which she sustained a minor cut below her left eye and another on her finger.
She was subsequently arrested on February 4 and has been held in custody since then.
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The court raised concerns over the minor injuries Joubert sustained, as well as the missing murder weapon, casting doubt on her account. Additionally, it was revealed that Lowhills Farm had been sold at auction, leaving Joubert without a fixed residence.
Joubert attempted to use her ownership of Tswale, a domesticated elephant valued at over R1m, as collateral in her bail argument.
Nguyuza responded that he was unfamiliar with elephant auction prices.
With strict bail conditions in place, Joubert will remain under close supervision as her case progresses.
She is expected to return to court in June, where further evidence, including the post-mortem report and crime scene photo album, will be presented.
