Well-known former journalist, spokesperson, and political commentator Fhumulani Kenneth Mathivha (66) spent two nights in jail after being arrested on attempted murder charges. He is accused of trying to run down a woman with his car following a vehicle accident.
Details about the altercation that led to Mathivha's arrest remain sketchy. The incident reportedly occurred on Monday, 16 December, in Sibasa near Bergvlam Primary School at around 12:00. Mathivha had gone to the school to fetch his grandchild's report card.
It is alleged that Mathivha was involved in an accident with a vehicle driven by a woman. A heated argument apparently ensued, and when the woman got out of her car, she was allegedly struck and injured by Mathivha's vehicle.
Mathivha is further accused of leaving the scene of the accident. He later reported to the Thohoyandou police station after being summoned. He was arrested and spent Monday night in police custody.
Mathivha was scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, but this did not happen, reportedly due to time constraints. By Tuesday afternoon, he was still being held in the police cells, awaiting his court appearance. His lawyer expressed frustration, claiming the delays in bringing Mathivha before the court were deliberate.
On Wednesday morning, a bail application was brought by Advocate Esau Ngwana of N Negondeni Attorneys, who represented Mathivha. The application, submitted in the form of an affidavit read by his legal representative, lasted less than 30 minutes. The state did not oppose bail, which was set at R2,000 with strict conditions.
Mathivha is required to report to the Thohoyandou police station every Friday between 08:00 and 17:00 and has been warned not to contact the alleged victim.
Kenny Mathivha began his broadcasting career in the late 1980s at the then Radio Thohoyandou. In 1991, he studied journalism at Jackson State University in the USA and worked as a correspondent for the BBC World Service in London during this time. In 1995, he was recruited to work as a political reporter for the SABC in Cape Town.
In 1997, Mathivha left journalism to join Advocate Ngoako Ramatlhodi, the first Premier of the then Northern Province, as a spokesperson. He served as spokesperson in several government departments until his retirement in 2023.
In March this year, Mathivha was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of the Rev Tshenuwani Farisani Foundation. He has been involved with the foundation since its establishment, serving as its deputy secretary and spokesperson.