By Everson Luhanga
Sizok’thola presenter Xolani Maphanga, 39, and his co-accused bodyguard, Bongani Mkhabela, 33, who is also the owner of Tshenolo Private Investigation company, have been granted bail of R5,000 each.
They appeared in the Soshanguve Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday morning.
Sizok’thola is a show aired on Moja Love TV that the channel says “contribute[s] positively in the fight against drugs.”
National Prosecuting Authority regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the two men face three counts of attempted murder and trespassing.
“It is alleged that on 14 March 2024, the two together with other crew members of Moja Love that have not been identified went to the complainant’s house in Soshanguve, looking for drugs that they alleged the complainant was selling,” said Mahanjana.
“It is alleged that when they couldn’t find the drugs, the two started assaulting a woman, a complainant in the matter, with a sjambok and shocked her with a taser and suffocated her brother.”
Mahanjana said the woman reported the matter to the police three days later.
“After investigations were conducted, Maphanga and Mkhabela handed themselves over to the police on 9 April. A warrant of arrest was issued against them.”
She said the two denied in court that they had committed the offences and asked to be released on bail.
The state did not oppose their release on bail but asked the court to impose conditions that the two should not communicate directly or indirectly with the witnesses and should report to their closest police station once a week.
The matter was postponed to 21 May for further investigation.
Pictured above: Xolani Maphanga.
Image source: X
