The Thohoyandou Magistrate Court granted R50 000 bail to murder-accused, Livhuwani Madadzhe this morning.
The 38-year-old Madadzhe, better known as comedian SABC Livhu, made a quick appearance in court and was represented by an attorney, Mr Maanda Magadze. The legal representative who previously argued his case, Advocate Ntsako Hlungwani, could not be present in court as he had another matter enrolled in the High Court.
Only a few community members turned up at court this morning. On previous occasions the court room was packed, with community members and various interest groups protesting outside.
Madadzhe stands accused of murdering his wife, Ms Lindelani Nengovhela. The lifeless body of Mia Muofhe, as she was called by her friends, was found in a water-filled pit outside their house on 28 January this year. A day before her death, she had withdrawn the assault charges she had laid against Livhu in November 2022. Livhu was arrested the same day that the body was found.
A formal bail application was heard on 27 and 28 March, but the presiding magistrate did not make a ruling. The case was postponed to 6 April. Last Thursday (6th), the court premises was swarming as usual with community members and members of the unified groups who had come to oppose the granting of bail to Livhu. Following a very brief appearance by the accused, the case was postponed to 13 April because of the absence of the presiding magistrate who was not present from what was described as unforeseen circumstances.
This morning, magistrate Mukoma Maiwashe spent less than an hour to announce her ruling and setting out the conditions for bail. Bail was fixed at R50 000, but Madadzhe was instructed to relocate from his home to an address in Gauteng. He was told not to interfere with any witnesses, whether he knows them or not. Madadzhe must also report at the Sandton police station on Mondays and Fridays between 8:00 and 16:00 weekly.
The case was postponed to 30 May for further investigations.