Controversial blogger, Musa Khawula, has been remanded in custody after appearing before the Alexandra Magistrates Court.
The 33-year-old in is hot water for allegedly contravening Section 13 of the Cybercrimes Act 19 of 2020 and hate speech.
He is due back in court next Tuesday for bail application.
Authorities say the notorious blogger was apprehended in KwaZulu-Natal.
“He was arrested in connection with the Sandton (GP) case, but in Dundee (KZN),” says the South African Criminal Justice System in a tweet. “He was subsequently collected from Dundee SAPS and taken back to Gauteng to appear at the Alexandra Magistrates Court (GP).”
Businessman, Ze Nxumalo, is the one behind the blogger’s arrest.
Nxumalo accuses the 33-year-old of posting derogatory statements on social media against him, with the intention of impairing, injuring or damaging his dignity.
In some of his controversial posts in October, Khawula accused Nxumalo of cheating on his then pregnant wife, former Miss South Africa, Tamaryn Green. He also hinted at the businessman and his friends of having sent him fake e-wallets in a bid to muzzle him.
Nxumalo then slapped the blogger with a court directive in early November, ordering him to retract the claims.
Khawula responded to the court order two days later, with a seemingly sarcastic apology.
“Askies hle Zesimdumise Nxumalo for saying you cheated on your wife Dr Tamaryn Green with Lebo Mokoena. That was so wrong of me, how dare I? Will you please ensure that your wife gets this as well. Oh, what a kind man. God bless you,” he wrote, among others.
In court today, the state opposed bail due to Khawula’s pending murder case in the Free State and an outstanding warrant of arrest for reckless and negligent driving.
“Furthermore, Sergeant Mabunda’s investigation further revealed that the accused’s profile and physical address still need to be verified to enable the compilation of a comprehensive statement for bail application purposes,” the NPA says in a statement.
Khawula is notorious for spilling spicy content online about celebrities and high-profile officials.
He recently left many South Africans shocked and concerned after he accused the Deputy Transport Minister, Mkhuleko Hlengwa, of sleeping with male staff members.
Some even warned him that he had overplayed his hand, and things weren’t going to end well for him.
However, despite the irritation some South Africans feel towards him, others have praised him for his daring nature – even accusing law enforcement officials of misdirecting their authority.
I understand Musa is not innocent mara okare go ne abuse of power nyana mo. https://t.co/CKRUEp1JUD
— Legend (@Zandi_Legend) January 14, 2025
Khawula was previously jailed for 90 days for contempt of court after he refused to apologise for corruption claims he had levelled against ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula’s wife, Nozuko. Written by Odirile Rabolao
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