The case between Limpopo businessman Mr Johny Khubana and the man he accuses of intimidation, Mr Kenny Bongwe, took a dramatic turn this week when Bongwe laid counter-charges of intimidation against Khubana.
Bongwe's arrest and subsequent appearance in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Monday, 24 July, emanate from an incident where he allegedly sent threatening messages to Khubana. The messages follow an alleged misunderstanding over Bongwe's sister's security course grades, which she did at a security training centre owned by Khubana.
In the WhatsApp messages Khubana received on Monday, 17 July, the sender, who claimed to be a member of the Tshisole Black Mafia Family (BMF), instructed Khubana to avail himself for a meeting with members of the BMF. Khubana was warned that failing to meet the delegation would have severe and dire consequences. Khubana did not heed the warning but instead reported the matter to the police and laid a complaint. Bongwe has since allegedly confessed to Khubana that he is not a member of the BMF.
The BMF strongly denied even knowing Bongwe or having anything to do with the threats.
Bongwe (34), who is a supervisor at the South African National Blood Service in the Eastern Cape, was taken into custody after he had handed himself over to the police on Friday, 21 July. On the same day of his arrest, however, he laid counter-charges of intimidation against Khubana.
Khubana, who owns several businesses around Limpopo, claims he was lured to the Thohoyandou Police Station on the pretext that he was to make a further statement on the charges he had laid against Bongwe. On his arrival, however, he was locked up and charged with intimidation.
Bongwe was represented by Advocate Tshifhiwa Matodzi during his appearance in court on Monday. Matodzi tried his best to have his client released on bail, but the court ruled in favour of the State, who had earlier requested a postponement for direction from the director of public prosecutions as to the schedule of the charge. His case was postponed to 31 July for the state to gather all the relevant information, which will also be furnished to the defence. He remains in custody.
Khubana appeared in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court on Tuesday, 25 July. His case was postponed to 28 July for a formal bail application. His defence attorney, Advocate Tshinetise Mudzunga, tried in vain to have the bail application entertained, but Magistrate Mukoma Maiwashe granted a postponement for the State to gather more information around the case. Khubana was remanded in custody.