Limpopo businessman Mr Johny Khubana and Mr Kenny Bongwe, a supervisor at the South African Blood Service in the Eastern Cape, who laid charges of intimidation against each other last month, were each granted R1,000 bail with conditions during their respective appearances in the Thohoyandou Magistrate's Court last week.
Khubana, who owns several businesses in the Vhembe area, appeared before magistrate Mukoma Maiwashe on Friday, 28 July. During a brief appearance for the State, Advocate Tula Pekwa from the office of the director of public prosecution in Polokwane, did not oppose bail, and it was fixed at R1,000, on condition that Khubana does not tamper with investigations or interfere with witnesses. His case was postponed to 29 September for further investigation.
Bongwe appeared before magistrate Farhana Hussain on Monday, 31 July, where State prosecutor Adv Pekwa again did not oppose bail, citing that it was a schedule one offense. Bail of R1,000 was also fixed for him on condition that he does not interfere with witnesses. His case was postponed to 27 September for further investigations.
Khubana and Bongwe's arrest and subsequent appearance in court emanate from an incident where Bongwe allegedly sent threatening messages to Khubana after a misunderstanding over his sister's security course grades, which she completed at a security training centre owned by Khubana. These threats were allegedly sent to Khubana on Monday, 17 July. In the messages, Bongwe claimed to be a member of the Black Mafia Family (BMF), which he allegedly later admitted he was not.
The BMF has distanced itself from the incident, saying they do not even know Bongwe, nor did they align themselves with his threats.
Upon arrest on 21 July, after he had handed himself over to the police on charges of intimidation laid by Khubana, Bongwe laid counter-charges of intimidation against Khubana, who was arrested and made his first appearance in court on 25 July.