Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Lions River Honorary Officers have expressed frustration after a case involving four men accused of trespassing while allegedly poaching was once again postponed at the Howick Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The accused — Simphiwe Ngcobo (24), Mnelisi Mthembu (34), Mthetheleli Hlengwa (21) and Cyril Duma (46) — appeared briefly in court, all facing charges of trespassing. The State told the court that since the men’s previous appearance on December 10, 2025, no progress had been made on the docket as the investigating officer had been on leave.
All four are out on R200 bail each. The matter was postponed to February 16 for further investigation. Several honorary officers, residents and local leaders attended the proceedings, including ward 5 councillor Hazel Lake and ward 6 councillor Kate Janse van Rensburg.
Speaking to The Witness outside court, Lions River Honorary Officers chairperson Ant Stratford expressed deep frustration at the continued delays. The four men were apprehended in November on a farm in the Lions River area, allegedly in possession of 16 hunting dogs. A fifth person, a minor, was also caught at the scene.
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Although no animal carcasses were found, Stratford said the incident forms part of a broader poaching crisis in the region, with protected species such as reedbuck and oribi frequently targeted. He described illegal poaching in Lions River, Curry’s Post, Mooi River and Mpophomeni as a “monstrous” and increasingly uncontrollable problem. Areas including Lions River, Boston, Bulwer and Mpophomeni have been identified as poaching hotspots.
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