Shebeshxt Bail Appeal Postponed Again as State Seeks More Time
Lekompo musician Lehlohonolo Chauke, popularly known as Shebeshxt, will have to wait longer for a ruling in his latest bid for freedom after the Polokwane High Court postponed his bail appeal to June 12.
The artist has been in custody since his arrest in November last year and has already failed in three previous attempts to secure bail.
Also Read: NPA Backs Court Ruling Denying Bail to Shebeshxt for Third Time
State Requests More Time
The postponement came after the State requested additional time to submit supplementary heads of argument.
State prosecutor Phaladi Mphahlele told the court that he was not the prosecutor who initially prepared the legal submissions in the matter, making it necessary for the State to file further arguments before proceedings could continue.
Presiding judge Karin Pillay acknowledged the pressure faced by both legal teams due to the tight timelines surrounding the appeal application.
She noted that the matter had been enrolled quickly after leave to appeal was granted on what the defence described as “new facts” emerging from the earlier magistrate’s court ruling.
Defence Pushes Medical Grounds
During proceedings, defence lawyer Michael Khumalo argued that Chauke’s need for urgent leg surgery should have been accepted as a new development supporting another bail application.
However, Regional Court magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi previously rejected that argument when dismissing the musician’s third bail bid in April.
Netshiozwi ruled that the medical concerns had already been raised in earlier applications and therefore did not qualify as new facts.
The magistrate also pointed to evidence from correctional services officials showing that Chauke had never formally complained about his medical condition while in custody.
Questions Raised Over Magistrate’s Role
Khumalo further argued before the High Court that Netshiozwi should not have presided over the matter because he had allegedly signed the J50 warrant linked to Chauke’s arrest.
The defence maintains that this raised concerns over impartiality in the bail proceedings.
Facing Multiple Serious Charges
Chauke is facing 20 criminal charges, including attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, malicious damage to property, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and illegal possession of a firearm.
The musician appeared at the Polokwane Regional Court earlier this month and is expected back in court again on May 28 as the criminal case continues.