The DNA from the lion cub found at the Athlone home of Sulaiman Effendi will be tested against that of two lions in Limpopo to determine if there’s a link.
Meanwhile, a second lion cub involved in the saga is still missing.
Sources close to the investigation say the trail of the missing male cub has run cold.
This was revealed at the Wynberg Magistrates’ Court yesterday where Effendi, the son of murderer Najwa Dirk, and his co-accused Moegamat Rayaan Simons and Shurud Jacobs made their second appearance.
The trio, who were previously granted R5000 bail each, are facing 14 charges relating to the protection of wild animals.
The court also heard that Jacobs has a pending case of assault.
CHARGES: Accused Shurud Jacobs. Picture: Jack Lestrade
They were nabbed after detectives attached to Organised Crime Investigations, with the Stock and Endangered Species Unit, followed up on information about a lion cub at a house in Lawrence Road, Athlone, on 21 August.
The estimated street value of the cub is R50 000.
A photograph of Sulaiman holding up the cub, mimicking the movie The Lion King, went viral on social media.
The cub has since been placed in the care of Cape Nature.
CASE: The photo of Sulaiman Effendi which went viral. File photo
On Wednesday, the suspects stepped into the dock with snazzy T-shirts and jeans, supported by friends and family in the gallery.
The prosecutor said the investigating officer was currently in Thabazimbi in Limpopo, where the cub was taken from.
She said the cub’s DNA will be compared to that of an adult male and female lion in Thabazimbi to support the State’s case that the cub came from there.
The State is yet to reveal why the cub was brought to the Western Cape, but it is alleged that one of the suspects wanted to give his daughter a Lion King-themed birthday party.
The matter was postponed to 13 February 2020.
A source close to the investigation says they are trying to establish whether the two cubs are related, “but we still do not know where the second cub is; it is still missing”.
The suspects walked out of court smiling, accompanied by their legal team, and Sulaiman’s uncle, Waleed Dirk.
In August, Waleed was charged with common assault after he was caught on camera headbutting photographer Jaco Marais outside court.
On Wednesday Jaco and Waleed met for mediation and the two smiled and shook hands outside court afterwards.
UPBEAT: Effendi with his uncle en lawyer Waleed Dirk
Waleed was previously convicted of 180 counts of fraud and forgery, for defrauding customs export officers and SARS officials in the Northern Cape when fruit was exported through the family business, Dirk Fruit Supply Oshakati CC.
He was fined R1 million, which he paid into the State’s Criminal Asset Recovery Account.
He was also fined R7 million, payable to SARS, which was deferred.
Najwa is serving 28 years behind bars for the murder of her husband, Taliep Petersen.
She is currently incarcerated at Pollsmoor Prison.