Page 5 - 17 October 2025

THE REPORTER 17 OCTOBER 2025 · PAGE 5

With grateful thanks to www.iol.co.za

An Eastern Cape man has Matyolo. Kariega, Eastern Cape – The linked to the crime in added to the matter. He i m m i g r a t i o n - r e l a t e d
been arrested for the murder Matyolo further stated that National Prosecuting November 2024, leading to a b a n d o n e d h i s b a i l offences. The illegal
of a man who was found preliminary investigations A u t h o r i t y ( N PA ) h a s the arrest of Ngulube and application, and the case has harvesting and trade of
dead inside a vehicle. successfully opposed the several co-accused. been postponed to 30 protected species such as
led to the recovery of the b a i l a p p l i c a t i o n o f October 2025, when both he cycads remains a serious
A 37-year-old non-verbal deceased’s belongings from Zimbabwean national, Ngulube had previously and Ngqabutho Ngulube are environmental crime in
man from Qunu was the suspect, as he claimed Ngqabutho Ngulube (34), appeared in 2024 alongside expected to return to court. South Africa, threatening
arrested after a 45-year-old that revenge was the motive who faces charges related to co-accused Khaya Moyo biodiversity and under-
man was found dead in a behind his action, as he was the illegal removal of (43), Godfrey Makhohdo The State opposed bail on mining conservation efforts.
vehicle following a wedding once stabbed by the protected plant species, (45), Oalabahle Ndlovu (24), several grounds, including The NPA continues to
ceremony. He had been deceased but survived. specifically cycads of the and Mnqobi Sibanda (35) on the seriousness of the prioritise these prosecutions
fatally strangled. similar charges. While those offences, the accused’s
Encephalartos genus. four accused abandoned unlawful immigration status, as part of its mandate to
Police spokesperson Welile “The male suspect, who is Ngulube is currently in the their bail applications at the the lack of verifiable local uphold the rule of law and
Matyolo said that the victim unable to speak and country unlawfully, as his visa time, Ngulube’s application ties, and the high risk of safeguard the country’s
was found dead inside a communicates only with the has expired. was granted. He has since flight. The court agreed with natural heritage.
Toyota Quantum on Friday assistance of a sign The charges stem from an been re-arrested in court in the State’s submissions, and The matter will return to the
morning. connection with the current bail was denied.
language expert, is expected incident in October 2024, Kariega Magistrates’ Court
“It is alleged that the to appear before the Bityi involving the alleged theft of charges. All accused provisionally on 30 October 2025 for the
intoxicated victim was asleep Magistrate's court on endangered cycad plants A sixth accused, Peter face charges of theft, two Ngulube accused, while
in the Quantum during a Tuesday, October 14, 2025, from private farmland near Bongani Ngulube (49), a contravention of the the remaining four co-
wedding ceremony when the facing a murder charge,” Kariega. Following an South African citizen with no National Environmental accused are scheduled to
suspect used a shoelace to said Matyolo. intensive investigation, k n o w n r e l a t i o n t o Management: Biodiversity appear on 19 November
strangle him to death,” said police intercepted a vehicle Ngqabutho, has since been Act (NEMBA), and possible 2025 for trial proceedings.