The murder trial of controversial comedian and social-media personality Livhuwani Madadzhe, better known as SABC Livhu, resumed on Monday in the Thohoyandou High Court, sitting at Waterval, with a new judge now presiding over the matter.
Ms Matsaro Violet Semenya has been appointed to replace Judge Thogomelani Tshidada after Madadzhe's legal team filed for his removal, alleging bias.
Madadzhe faces five charges, including the murder of his partner, Lindelani Nengovhela, whose body was found dumped in a water-filled pit at his Mangondi Sidou home in January 2023.
Outside court, Madadzhe has once again sparked controversy – this time over a public Facebook post in which he accuses his late partner's sister, Sylvia Nengovhela, of wanting to misuse policy money and neglecting the welfare of his children.
In the now-viral post, Livhu wrote:
"Give these children their SASSA grant. I was called to come and sign for R80,000 from a Capitec policy. I went with my friend. When I got there, I asked Sylvia what she wanted to do with the money, and she said she wants to buy a wardrobe, a bed so that the kids can sleep nicely and also buy inside toilets and bathtubs. That's when I realised that this one wants to upgrade her house; she doesn't care about the future of the children. She should've said Anza will do a driver's licence and security for backup. That's when I left her and her certificates."
Livhu added that he had only received the death certificates recently and had done nothing with them:
"She is mad because I am driving a BMW, which she thought I bought with the policy money. The reality is I hired the car from Avis. That policy has lapsed. She must stop telling me that I am eating policy money. I work and hustle to make money."
He also alleged emotional abuse by Sylvia towards the children. "Anza is 18 years old and Muofhe is 12. She stayed with these kids from 2023 to 2025, and every day she told them that their father had killed their mother. These kids are not stupid – they would've told me they wanted to stay with their aunt if she was treating them well."
He further questioned whether Sylvia would still care for the children if she was not receiving their SASSA grants: "Were you going to take care of your deceased sister's children if you still get paid their SASSA grant and still not give them [the money]?"
In response, Sylvia Nengovhela denied Livhu's claims and made allegations of her own. She said Madadzhe had changed the SASSA beneficiary details for his youngest child, Mpho, but had failed to do so for Muofhe. According to her, Muofhe's grandmother is currently receiving the grant.
"We are waiting for Livhu to change it the same way he changed Mpho's," she said.
Sylvia said the family had completely cut ties with Madadzhe and no longer engaged with him directly. "We are in deep pain, and I have tried to block him, but he always talks about our family on social media, and as a family we have decided to cut ties with him. He only communicates with us via our family lawyer. He [is] making us feel a lot of pain, and we wish he were inside – maybe then we will feel a lot better," she said.
One of Madadzhe's legal representatives, Attorney Khuliso Negota, said the defence was challenging the trial on procedural grounds, maintaining that the previous judge had shown bias from the outset.
"We have to be procedural. We are guided by the Criminal Procedure Act. We are removing the judge because he was biased, and it means he was biased from the start," said Negota.
Although Madadzhe previously pleaded guilty, Negota insists he still has legal room to manoeuvre.
"He pleaded guilty, but there is a defence that he can use to defend himself. The suspect has five charges on one charge sheet, and we want all charges to start afresh (de novo). We are busy filing papers for review."
Negota added that the defence team remained intact and confident in its strategy. "All three lawyers are still there, and we are helping each other. It just happened that I was the only one in court yesterday, but next time we will all be there. I am still very much confident that we will win the case. Livhuwani will be a free man soon."
Meanwhile, rumours surfaced on social media on Monday that Adv Ntsako Hlungwane, Madadzhe's lead counsel, had dropped the case because Livhu was not paying him – a claim he firmly denied.
"Honestly speaking, I am still representing Madadzhe Livhuwani. When his matter was remanded, I was in another court doing other cases. Two, he does not owe me a cent. Thirdly, he pays me well," Hlungwane said.
The matter was postponed to 3 November for the outcome of the review application.