Sonell Joubert walks free: Court strikes case off roll
The prosecution applied for a further postponement, but the magistrate declined, citing insufficient grounds.
The murder charge against Sonell Joubert (43) was struck off the roll by the Tonga Magistrate’s Court on Monday, September 15, following the prosecution’s unsuccessful application for a further postponement to continue investigations.
This was confirmed by Monica Nyuswa, the spokesperson of the National Prosecuting Authority.
Joubert was accused of the premeditated murder of Jurgens Nel, whose body was discovered with multiple stab wounds on Lowhills Farm in Mpumalanga on February 3.
ALSO READ: TIMELINE | 12 months of key events on Lowhills Farm leading up to Jurgens Nel’s death
The state had classified the matter as a Schedule 6 offence, indicating its severity and the presumption against bail.
The events leading to Nel’s death unfolded on Saturday, February 1, when Joubert reported, at KaMhlushwa Police Station, that Nel had violated a protection order she had obtained against him.
That evening, police visited Lowhills Farm, where Joubert and her life partner, Johann Möller, informed officers that Nel had locked himself inside a house, saying that he was armed and behaving aggressively.
The couple said they would sleep elsewhere on the property, and the officers left.
On Monday, February 3, Sergeant Bonginkosi Given Nguyuza returned to the farm with seven colleagues to arrest Nel. Joubert guided them to a padlocked house, which she said was where Nel could be found.
Upon entering, Nguyuza discovered Nel’s body with visible stab wounds to the upper body.
Joubert told police she had acted in self-defence. She was asked to return to the station the following day to provide a written statement.
On Tuesday, February 4, after submitting her account, she was arrested and appeared in court the same day.
ALSO READ: Jurgens Nel murder update: Tonga court postpones case to August
Her initial bail application was denied, and she remained in custody until May 29, when the Mpumalanga Division of the High Court granted her R15 000 bail under strict conditions.
These included reporting to the Tonga Police Station twice weekly, remaining within the district, notifying authorities of any address changes, and avoiding contact with state witnesses.
The court warned that any breach would result in immediate arrest and forfeiture of bail.
ALSO READ: Lowhills murder: Joubert remains in custody, life partner arrested
Throughout the proceedings, Joubert changed legal representation multiple times. Johannesburg-based attorney Marco Lamberti withdrew from the case due to alleged non-payment.
Adv Hennie van Rensburg later took over and successfully appealed the bail denial before Justice J Vukeya.
In her affidavit, Joubert stated her intention to plead not guilty, asserting: “I deny that I have committed the above-mentioned charge. I am not guilty and have no doubt that this will be the result after the trial.”
However, the trial never commenced.
According to Nyuswa, the magistrate declined the prosecution’s request for another postponement, citing insufficient grounds. As a result, the charge was struck off the roll on Monday.
Nyuswa said the fact that the matter was struck off the roll does not mean the end of the case.
“The magistrate denied us a further postponement for further investigations. That means we have the right to finalise the investigations and re-enrol the case at a later stage,” said Nyuswa.
