Zuko Komisa
- The Polokwane Regional Court has postponed the pre-trial of Limpopo musician Lehlohonolo “Shebeshxt” Chauke to September 10 to allow further legal consultations.
- The court dropped an illegal firearm possession charge, leaving Chauke to face 21 counts, including attempted murder and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
- Chauke’s legal team has launched a double jeopardy plea, demanding the dismissal of 11 charges they argue were already finalised in lower courts.
The Polokwane Regional Court has postponed the pre-trial of popular Limpopo musician Lehlohonolo Chauke, widely known as “Shebeshxt” or “Shebe Maburna”, to September 10.
The delay was granted to allow the artist further consultations with his legal team. Chauke has remained in custody since his arrest in November last year on a litany of serious offences, including attempted murder.
While the court withdrew a single count of illegal possession of a firearm, the musician still faces a daunting total of 21 criminal charges.
However, his legal representation is aggressively challenging the state’s case, attempting to have more than half of the indictment thrown out on constitutional grounds.
Invoking the principle of double jeopardy, Chauke’s defence lawyers argued in court on Friday that 11 of the counts spanning robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and various firearms offences must be dismissed.
A spokesperson for the legal team outlined their position:
“The defence maintains the matters were already finalised in the Seshego and Lebowakgomo Magistrates’ Courts, invoking the principle of double jeopardy.”
Should the court reject the defence’s plea, the controversial artist will face trial on the full, remaining 21 counts when proceedings resume in September.
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