TV presenter Xolani Maphanga charged with attempted murder
Sizok’thola host, his bodyguard granted bail
TV personality Xolani Maphanga‚ 39‚ and his bodyguard have been charged with three counts of attempted murder and trespass.
Maphanga’s co-accused is Bongani Mkhabela‚ 33‚ who is the owner of a security agency known as Tshenolo Private Investigative Company.
The state accuses the duo and other crew members of assaulting three people in Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, while the show Sizok’thola was being recorded in March.
The anti-drug trade show belongs to the Moja Love channel on DStv.
A case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm had been opened at Soshanguve police station after the alleged assault.
National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said on March 14 that the duo‚ together with other crew members of the Moja Love show who have not been identified‚ allegedly went to the complainant’s house in Soshanguve‚ looking for drugs they claimed she was selling in the township.
“When they could not find the drugs‚ it is alleged the two started to assault a woman‚ who is a complainant in the matter‚ with sjambok and choked her and further suffocated her brother.
“Three days after the incident, the woman reported the matter to the police‚” she said.
Maphanga and Mkhabela handed themselves over to the police on April 9 after a warrant of arrest was issued against them‚ Mahanjana said.
In their bail bid‚ the two denied committing the offences.
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 has been postponed to May 21 for further investigations.