Cape Town — Controversial South African blogger, Musa Khawula (32) has remained behind bars following his arrest in Dundee in KZN.
Khawula made a brief appearance at the Randburg District Court as he faces charges of Crimen Injuria, Contravention of Section 189 of the Cyber Crimes Act and Hate Speech, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said.
“The accused is alleged to have posted derogatory statements between 10 and 12 October 2024 on his social media platform, which has a substantial following, with the alleged intention of impairing, injuring or damaging the dignity of business Ze Nxumalo,” the NOPA’s Phindi Mojonodwane said.
The NPA revealed the state opposed bail due to Khawula’s pending 2022 murder case in the Free State, while he also has an outstanding warrant of arrest for reckless and negligent driving.
Sergeant Mabunda’s investigation revealed that Khawula’s physical address needed to be verified to enable the compilation of a comprehensive statement for bail.
Subsequently, Khawula was remanded in custody without bail until 21 January 2025, when a formal bail application will be heard,” Mjonodwane concluded.
Musa Khawula Remanded in Custody pic.twitter.com/6HVj1K3tW7
— NPASouthAfrica (@NPA_Prosecutes) January 14, 2025
According to The Citizen, Khawula has had previous run-ins with the law over his behaviour and comments in the past.
Last November, the Johannesburg High Court issued a warrant of arrest for Khawula after he defied an order to apologise to Ze Nxumalo, whom he accused of cheating on his wife and former Miss South Africa, Tamaryn Green-Nxumalo.
The social media influencer and entertainment commentator was also ordered to retract the allegations posted on his social media platform, X, on 12 October, where he published a photo of Nxumalo’s wife with the caption: “Dr Tamaryn Green-Nxumalo with a child while her husband, Ze Nxumalo, is cheating on her.”
Nozuko Mbalula, the wife of ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, also obtained an interdict against Khawula after he made allegations that she and her business partner, Michelle Perrow, paid a bribe to get government tenders worth R150 million.
The court documents showed that Khawula was ordered to pay damages, cover legal costs and remove the defamatory statements within 48 hours of the order being granted.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen