Criticism of new bid to shift cases from Skukuza court

The regional court president of Mpumalanga, Naomi Annette Engelbrecht, is facing renewed criticism for her latest attempt to transfer criminal cases from the Skukuza regional court, the country’s flagship court for rhino poaching cases, to Hazyview.

- Sheree Bega

The Lowvelder reported this month that Engelbrecht’s move last month to transfer the cases had caused widespread confusion. It has since emerged that on 6 March Mpumalanga’s Judge President Sebotje Sheila Mpahlele issued a directive in terms of the Superior Court Act that no cases can be transferred from Skukuza to Hazyview.

“All criminal matters that have been transferred from the regional court sitting in Skukuza to Hazyview regional court shall be transferred back to Skukuza to be dealt with and finalised at the Skukuza regional court,” read the directive addressed to Engelbrecht, among other officers.

“No matters shall be transferred from Skukuza to Hazyview or any other court seat without authorisation by this office,” Mpahlele said.

According to The Lowvelder, all cases have been transferred back to the Skukuza court, which is in the Kruger National Park.

South African National Parks (SANParks) said it was “taken by surprise” by the latest move from Engelbrecht. This was “especially since it was not consulted on the intended move by the regional court president or even formally informed as the main victim of crime in the Kruger National Park,” said Isaac Phaahla, spokesperson for the park.

Phaahla said SANParks was grateful to the judge president for reversing the intended move because “there is the constitutional court ruling in the previous attempt to close the court”.