A provincial police spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, has confirmed that one of Jörg Schnarr’s murder suspects, Napoleon Joseph Nyalungu, reappeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Nyalungu has been remanded in custody until October 28 when his bail application will be heard. He is facing charges of murder, attempted murder and attempted hijacking.

This follows the fatal hijacking of Schnarr and his companions on October 3, which hit global news networks, dramatically impacting South Africa’s tourism sector. The tragic murder sparked a concerted effort from the highest government authorities to make the Numbi road safer for tourists.

Meanwhile, the hunt for suspected accomplices continues.

Mohlala said, “We have a highly experienced team of detectives on this case and are confident further arrests will be made.”

Schnarr was fatally shot at while travelling on the Numbi road near White River on his way to the Kruger National Park.

“On the day of the attack, it was reported that four tourists from Germany were allegedly travelling in a Hyundai H1 on the Numbi road en route to Numbi Gate at Mdluli Safari Lodge. They were stopped by three armed suspects who were driving in a VW Caddy,” Mohlala said earlier.

“The suspects are said to have instructed the tourists to open the doors of their vehicle, but when Schnarr reportedly locked all the doors, one of the suspects allegedly shot him on the upper body through the window.

“It is further said the victims’ vehicle drove in reverse for about 100m before crashing into the wall of Heroes Academy. Unfortunately the driver died on the scene as a result of the shooting. The suspects reportedly sped off in their vehicle without taking anything from the tourists,” he said.