Ingonyama Trust’s R30 million mystery: High Court dismisses Ngwenya’s legal challenge

Former chairperson of KwaZulu-Natal Ingonyama Trust Board, Sipho Ngwenya, has been dismissed by the Pietermaritzburg High Court in his appeal after failing to file affidavits on time. The Pietermaritzburg High Court has again rejected former chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust Board (ITB),Sipho Jerome Ngwenya,in his attempt to appeal a July 2025 order. This order requires Ngwenya, a former judge, to account for the disappearance of R30 million belonging to the Ingonyama Trust during his time as the chairperson.

The missing R30 million was the proceeds from theIngonyama Trust’s sale of landin Hammarsdale to eThekwini Municipality in June 2018. Ngwenya had instructed that these funds be transferred to the trust account of his lawyer, Jafta Incorporated. The same court previously ruled in 2025 that Ngwenya had moved the money without the ITB’s authorisation.

While his assets have been attached to recover the funds, Ngwenya is appealing that specific decision separately. The current matter concerned Ngwenya’s application for condonation for the late filing of his appeal and affidavits. Following the July 2025 order, Ngwenya was given five days to file affidavits, but failed to do so and subsequently failed to appeal the decision within the required timeframe. Ngwenya’s legal team cited technical email issues preventing them from receivingActing Judge Jennifer Marion’sreasons for the order, which they claim resulted in them filing their appeal three months later.