Mbombela’s most followed court cases in a nutshell

MBOMBELA – As the year draws to a close, Lowvelder recaps on our most followed court cases.  The Mbombela Magistrate’s Court has had a very busy year indeed.

Mr Victor Wilkens stands accused of the attempted murder of Ms Amanda Joubert on January 16.  She sustained brain injuries and numerous fractures when she fell off the balcony of his flat at Hillside Manor.  He will appear in court on December 8.

Timothy Danger Magugula (37), a serial rapist from Hazyview, lured his victims by offering them employment.  He would lead them into secluded areas where he overpowered them and raped them.  He was convicted on 12 counts of rape in the Gauteng Circuit of the High Court in September and sentenced to an effective prison term of 322 years.

The trial of suspected rhino poachers Bheki Moduli (37) and Edwin Moduli (24) was postponed to February 23, 2015.  Edwin was apprehended during a stop-and-go operation in KaNyamazane in 2013 during which two rhino horns, a .308 hunting rifle and 12 rounds of ammunition were allegedly found in the vehicle that he had been driving.  Bheki was taken into custody the weekend after.

The fraud case against the former HOD of community, safety, security and liaison, Mr Thulani Sibuyi and GNT Security owner, Mr Vusi Mashaba has been postponed to February 4, 2015.  Sibuyi is alleged to have committed fraud totalling R 7 million.  During their previous court appearance in September, it transpired that the correct tender procedures were followed.  The alleged irregularity came into play when amendments to the initial agreement signed between GNT and the department were not done in accordance with regulations.  The tax clearance certificate that GNT submitted during the tender procedure was sent for further investigation by SARS.  Witnesses from SARS will address the court in February.

Ms Martie Kruger (47) appeared in court for the murder of her husband, Mr Hennie Kruger.  She appeared in court on Monday and the case was transferred to the Barberton Regional Court and postponed to January 27.

The trial of the alleged poachers of orphaned rhino Sabi will continue on January 30 next year. The five accused, Messrs. Thokozane Jabulane Ngwenya, Kenneth Alex Mthombithi, Russel Mokoena (out on bail) and Mthombisi Lenox Ngwenyama and Promise Mandla Lamula allegedly shot Sabi in his boma at Care for Wild Africa on August  7.  Sabi arrived at this centre after having survived the poaching of his mother at Sabi Sand in 2013, during which he  was hit by the same .375 bullet that killed her.  The bullets from both incidents were recovered from Sabi’s carcass and would be used as evidence in this trial.

The poaching case against an SANDF-soldier and his co-accused will continue in the Nelspruit Regional court on February 16, 2015.  Messrs Boet Leonard Mashego and Micheal Sithole were arrested at the fence of the Kruger  National Park (KNP) in September 2010 after a shoot-out with game rangers.  Mashego, who  was wounded in the shoulder, was taken into custody while wearing his army uniform.  The two accused were previously questioned about their whereabouts that night.  They explained that they were looking for herbs and cattle.

Mr. Amelco Thomas Mhlanga, a Mozambican citizen, was sentenced to 15 effective years in prison.  Muhlanga and his co-accused, Sipho Sithole, poached a female rhino  and her calf near Krokodilbrug in April 2011.  Sipho was the first to be apprehended and a rifle wasfound under his bed.  He claimed that the rifle belonged to Muhlanga and plead guilty to the illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.  Their trials were seperated and Muhlanga found guilty on poaching related charges.

A trial date has been set in the corruption case against four accused in the Nelspruit Regional Court.  Sam Ngubane, one of the accused, is a director of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta).  The accused are charged with corruption relating to a tender that was awarded to Takitsi Trading, the company owned by two other accused, while Ngubane was acting head of Cogta.  It is alleged that the company was awarded a tender for cleaning water and that in exchange the  Ngubanes were given a seaside apartment worth R15,5 million.  The trial will resume on March 9, 2015.

Doctor Zama Mathebule (37) was found guilty on a murder charge after stabbing his partner, Ms Selma Dilibu, to death. Doctor took her and her son for a walk when he turned around and stabbed her to death.  He was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

An ABSA staff member and six other accused suspected of stealing R 4,1 million will appear in court again next year.  Lowvelder previously reported that a custodian and a cleaner allegedly worked together to reprogram ATM’s.  Their access codes were changes and the suspects allegedly stole about R 4.1 million.  They were arrested in Middleburg on April 1.

Eight of the 11 accused in a public violence case were acquitted in October.  The 11 accused allegedly threw stones at the home of ANC ward councillor Elizabeth Masaya.  Three of the eleven accused – Ms Celine Nkambule, Ms Ntomfuthi Khoza and Mr Innocent Nkosi, will appear in court on January 9.

Marlize Stins, a former Standard Bank employee, was found guilty of fraud and theft of R 2, 7 million in the Nelspruit Regional Court in October.  Stins transferred money into the bank accounts of her son, her husband, her mother and herself during a period of her employ as a team leader with the bank.  She received a suspended sentence of eight years and has to pay monthly instalments or R 3 000 to Standard Bank for the next five years.  She was also placed under correctional supervision and house arrest for a period of three years and must attend rehabilitative social work programs.

Bongani Sibuyi was sentenced to 15 years in prison after killing a white rhino dear Afsaal in the  Kruger National Park.  Sibuyi plead guilty on the charges against him: illegal entry of the park, hunting of a protected species and killing of a white rhinoceros.  He also assisted the police by pointing them to other wrongdoers.

Boy Edwell Makhubela is accused of killing his girlfriend and her lover in cold blood on December 29, 2012.  The deceased’s brother testified that  Boy turned to them, looked them in the eyes and asked them whether they want to live or die before shooting them both.  His trial will continue on March 25, 2015.

An Delius Mukwebe and Jeremano Thive were arrested on January 19 this year in the Nwanetsi area of the Kruger National Park.  This happened after tracking dogs located them from a scene on which an injured rhino was found.  The case will resume on January 13, 2015.

Lorenzo Mazuze, a convicted burglar, was found guilty of attempted murder, malicious damage to property, armed robbery and housebreak with the intent to steal after he conducted farm attacks in the Barberton- and Malelane areas in 2008.  He was sentenced to 104 years in prison.

Constable Promise Mashego was arrested after he was apparently caught on CCTV footage stealing a laptop.  From the mayor’s office.  His case will continue on January 30.

A mother who allegedly assaulted her child to his death will appear on court again on January 19, after a psychological report has been completed on her mental state.  Ms Mawande Matsebula stands accused of murder and child abuse after her three year and 11 month old baby boy was, according to the post-mortem report, assaulted to death.

Tsepo Malope, an investigating officer from Hazyview, was arrested on May 25.  He was wounded during his arrest and questioned in the hospital, when he implicated Jabulane Ngomane and Patrick Mokoena.  They were wanted for the theft of a firearm, which firearm was confiscated from Malope. They will appear in court on April 14, 2015.

Johan Heunis stands accused of killing Michelle Curgenven on July 4.  He said that he had attempted to commit suicide when she tried to take a firearm from him.  A shot accidentally went off and she was hit and died on the scene.  Ballistic evidence has countered his version.  Evidence regarding his psychological condition will be presented to court when he returns on April 15.

Two parents of Barberton will appear in court on April 20, 2015 on a charge of child pornography.  They tried to pawn their cell phone at Cash Crusaders, when pornographic material of their seven-year-old daughter was apparently discovered on the cell phone.

Mr Francois Steynberg will appear in court on May 13 next year.  He allegedly tried to slit a girl’s throat with a set of scissors and stands accused of assault with the intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and attempted murder.
Ms Christine Bruins, the former day care mother accused of assaulting the children in her care, will appear in court again on January 28, 2015.

Messrs Gideon Mtshali, Sizwe Leonard Malatje, Selby Khoza and Velly William Zwane have been accused of stealing 112 pieces of rhino horn from the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency.  They will appear in court again on December 8.

Mr Charles Loram is accused of culpable homicide after Mr Michael Stenger was shot during a botched robbery in January 2012.  The case was postponed in June as the accused was scheduled to receive a heart transplant.  A new trial date of January 16 has been confirmed.

Mr Gert Lund was arrested in 2009 when it was reported that he had provided ammunition and weapons to suspected rhino poachers.  It was alleged that he was involved in the sale of rhino horns as well.  He was been released on R 25 000 bail and will appear in court again on December 8.

Three men were arrested in June in connection with the violent attack on Ms Christine Otto on March 20.  Messrs Senzo Maseko, Lucky Msibi and Thulani Nyani will appear in court on December 4.

Human trafficker and rapist Lloyd Mabuza received eight life sentences in the Graskop Magistrate’s Court on November 21.  His co-accused, Violet Chauke, received a suspended sentence of 20 years and was deported to Mozambique, her home country.  They lured young girls with the promise of education in South Africa and then used them as sex slaves.

Welcome Zenezela Bulunga (22) was sentenced to an effective prison term of 30 years for the farm attack and murder of Mr Gert de Beer on October 10 last year.  He also assaulted de Beer’s wife, Lina, who died of a heart attack within three months of her husband’s death.