The bail hearing of Sonell Joubert, accused of Jurgens Nel’s murder, took place in the Tonga Magistrate’s Court yesterday.

According to Lowvelder, Joubert, the owner of Tswale Educational Elephant Interactions, was arrested last Monday following the discovery of Nel’s body on Lowhills Farm.

He was stabbed, allegedly by Joubert. Paramedics declared him dead on the scene.

Joubert recently laid a charge against Nel for violating a protection order she had obtained against him, in which she claimed that Nel had insulted and assaulted her.

Joubert was represented by attorney Jaice Terblanche.

Magistrate Ningi Neko indicated that she first wanted to study all the relevant evidence that was presented before her and reserved judgment until next Tuesday. Joubert remains in custody.

In an unexpected twist, Joubert’s life partner, Johan Möller, was also arrested while attending the court case.

This arrest is not related to the murder case, but stems from a court battle with Shofeeds, the company in Parys that owns Lowhills Farm since it was bought on auction.

Following Shofeeds acquiring the farm, Joubert and Möller refused to leave the property. Shofeeds eventually applied for a high court interdict to have the elephant, Tswale, removed from it.

Joubert and Möller, against who the order was granted, filed an appeal and stayed put.

Based on their failure to heed the court order, Shofeeds applied for a contempt of court order against Möller and Joubert, and previous attempts by the sheriff to ensure their removal failed.

An application to overturn the contempt of court order is scheduled to be heard in the Mpumalanga High Court on Friday. Möller will remain in custody until then.

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