Skukuza Court Cases Return After Uproar

Naomi Engelbrecht, the Regional Court President (RCP) of Mpumalanga, is under fire following her controversial decision to transfer criminal cases—primarily involving rhino poaching—from the Skukuza Regional Court to Hazyview.

A letter dated 6 March, authored by Judge Segopotje Sheila Mphahlele, the Judge President of Mpumalanga, unequivocally stated that no cases were to be moved from Skukuza to Hazyview. This directive followed an emergency meeting on 5 March between Engelbrecht, Mphahlele, and representatives from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

Despite this instruction, Engelbrecht had, two weeks earlier, ordered regional magistrate Mbongeni Ngobeni to prepare for court proceedings in Hazyview. This sparked confusion and operational chaos. On the scheduled court day, prosecutor Abednigo Mgiba, along with suspects, witnesses, and legal representatives, gathered at the Skukuza Court. Meanwhile, Ngobeni awaited them in Hazyview, under Engelbrecht’s directive.

When Ngobeni attempted to relocate the entire proceeding to Hazyview, it was met with resistance. Legal teams, suspects out on bail, and even the police refused to comply with the abrupt instruction. Ultimately, it was agreed that all the cases would be postponed in absentia until 13 March.

Judge President Mphahlele has since instructed Engelbrecht to draft a revised court sitting schedule. However, as of publication, no updated programme had been received by regional court magistrates or prosecutors.

This is not the first time Engelbrecht’s decisions have come under scrutiny. In 2019/20, she clashed with then-Judge President Francis Legodi after attempting to relocate the Skukuza Regional Court to Mhala. Legodi challenged the legality of the move, leading to a full bench of High Court judges ruling Engelbrecht’s action unlawful and beyond her mandate.

Her subsequent appeal efforts were dismissed by both the Supreme Court of Appeal and the Constitutional Court, with both institutions finding the appeal lacking in merit.

The latest controversy once again places Engelbrecht’s leadership and judgement under the spotlight. For now, all affected criminal cases—particularly those related to rhino poaching—have been officially reinstated to Skukuza Regional Court, pending further clarity from the judiciary.