The Mkhuhlu Magistrate’s Court near Hazyview yesterday ordered Wonderboy Nyalungu not to damage any property owned by his elder brother, Joseph ‘Big Joe’ Nyalungu.

According to Lowvelder, Big Joe is infamous in the area for his numerous court appearances, most of which are related to alleged poaching.

The order was granted during Big Joe’s application for a protection order against Wonderboy.

Big Joe approached the court after his Toyota Land Cruiser was struck with an axe, allegedly by Wonderboy, on March 6.

The incident took place in Madras Village, where the Nyalungu family had gathered to arrange the funeral of the two men’s 82-year-old mother, Evelyn Nyalungu. She passed away on March 5 after a short illness.

According to an anonymous source, Wonderboy, Big Joe, and their sister argued over the funeral date.

The source said Wonderboy and their sister wanted the funeral on March 8, while Big Joe insisted on March 15.

“The disagreement sparked a very heated and aggressive argument. Wonderboy accused Big Joe of witchcraft, adding that he had a big snake that made him a very rich man. He publicly announced that the snake would finish the whole family,” said the source.

“He then jumped into Big Joe’s Toyota Land Cruiser and drove it into one of his other vehicles. He then got an axe from the house and started hitting the Toyota Land Cruiser severely.”

This prompted Big Joe to seek a protection order against Wonderboy.

Shortly after the attack, rumours of an attempted assassination circulated, but Big Joe dismissed the claims.

When asked whether he owned a snake for wealth, Big Joe neither confirmed nor denied it.

“Wonderboy is my younger brother. If he also wants to be rich, he must just wait for the snake that he claims I have to have offspring, then he can choose one in order to become rich as well,” he said.

He added that he was pleased the court made the protection order final.

• It is an African belief that snakes obtained from powerful sangomas bring wealth to people.

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