POLOKWANE: The defence team representing Lekompo musician Lehlogonolo Katlego “Shebeshxt” Chauke has questioned the timing of additional charges brought against him, arguing that some were added more than two years after the incidents in question.
During Thursday’s proceedings at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court, senior defence counsel Advocate Mutheiwana Sikhwari SC focused on how and when the additional charges were introduced as part of the musician’s ongoing bail application.
Thursday, 12 November, also marked exactly one year since Chauke was arrested in 2025. His continued detention, a year after his arrest, comes as the defence uses the bail re-examination to challenge aspects of the State’s case, including the timing of additional charges linked to two separate road accidents. Chauke faces 21 charges, including four counts of attempted murder linked to an alleged shooting in Ladanna in October 2025.
Sikhwari questioned why charges relating to earlier incidents were added long after they had occurred, arguing that some were introduced more than two years later.
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One of the incidents examined was a car crash on June 9, 2024, along the R37 road, which claimed the life of Chauke’s nine-year-old daughter.
Sikhwari told the court that charges relating to the incident were added on July 10, 2026, two years, one month and one day after the crash.
The defence also focused on another accident that occurred on January 30, 2024, near Goseame in Polokwane, Limpopo.
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Chauke survived that collision and was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
Sikhwari argued that the charges arising from the January 2024 incident were added approximately two years and five months later.
The defence is using the timing of the additional charges to challenge aspects of the state’s case as it seeks to secure Chauke’s release on bail.
The re-examination was expected to resume after a short tea break.
