Video | Shebeshxt victim still in hospital, was in coma for four days - court told

The investigating officer in the attempted murder case facing Shebeshxt has testified that the man the popular Lekompo singer allegedly shot was in a coma for four days and is still in hospital following the shooting on October 19.

W/O Phaladi Makola, who is attached to the police investigating unit in Limpopo, revealed that the singer does not have a firearm licence.

Shebeshxt, whose real name is Lehlogonolo Chauke, appeared at the Polokwane magistrate’s court on Thursday for a bail application. He faces nine charges that include attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm and assault.

He was arrested earlier this month following the October incident in which he allegedly shot a fan on the streets of Polokwane.

Makola told the court that on the day of the shooting, two people in a Nissan saw Shebeshxt driving a blue VW along Witklip Street in Ladanna, Polokwane.

“They tried to greet him, as he is popular. [Shebeshxt] said ‘Kgane a le tlale ka nna’, which is street language meaning, ‘You don’t respect me or don’t know who I am’.

“They then saw him pull a firearm,” Makola said. “The two cars were parallel to one another. He fired a shot at them. The bullet hit the rear window, hit the headrest of the driver and hit the passenger of the vehicle on the cheek.

“The driver of the Nissan tried to chase the VW, and as they saw that they couldn’t catch up with it, the driver then went to the hospital.”

Makola said the victim has been in hospital since 19 October.

“He was in a coma for four days. The firearm was never recovered, as [Shebeshxt] didn’t want to surrender it.

“We have checked with the database, and it shows that [he] has never applied for a firearm [and] does not possess a licence for any firearm,” Makola said.

Shebeshxt pleaded for the court to release him on R50,000 bail, saying he was not a threat to the community and would not interfere with witnesses.

His lawyer, Lot Ramusi, read Shebeshxt’s affidavit to the court, in which he stated that he is a breadwinner, as both his parents and partner are not working. He also said he had no relatives outside SA and could hand his passport over to the police if need be.

“I will comply with the court orders. I won’t interfere with the evidence or even contact witnesses, as I don’t even know who the witnesses are,” he said.

“But even if I get to know them, I won’t interfere. I am not a threat to the community, and I have been involved in efforts to give back to the community.”

It was also revealed in court that some of the complainants went to the police on Thursday to withdraw charges, saying they did not wish to proceed with the case anymore.

The state is opposing the singer’s release on bail.

Shebeshxt was remanded in custody, and the matter was postponed to December 8 for a further bail hearing.

Sowetan