Amid growing controversy that this week saw singer Jabulani Hadebe, known professionally as Sjava, removed from the line-up of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the artist finally broke his silence about rape allegations against him in a statement on Tuesday.
Sjava denied the allegations made by his former lover, musician Lady Zamar, who had opened a case of rape against him in November last year. She reportedly claimed she was raped after the two performed at the Royal Heritage Festival in Limpopo in 2017. In his statement, Sjava revealed that his lawyers had sent a letter of demand to Lady Zamar in November after she had accused him of abusing her following one of his shows on October 27.
A day after they served summons on her for a case of defamation, 13 November, Lady Zamar opened the rape case, he said. Sjava added that he had then cooperated with the police, who had told him they were still investigating, including interviewing witnesses, and that he had not been charged. By January, it was still being decided whether he would be prosecuted, he was told.
By February, Sjava’s legal team apparently pushed ahead with the defamation lawsuit against his accuser, after which Sjava was contacted by tabloid Sunday Sun, who informed him they were writing an article about the alleged rape. He took issue with some of the questions posed to him, including one about Lady Zamar’s “ulterior motives”, which he believed would have been better put to her directly
Sjava has now accused the police of breaking protocols for allegedly talking to the media about his case despite the musician not having been charged yet. He explained that he had refrained from answering questions about the case because, among other things, he had received advice from the police not to. He could, however, not remain silent due to the massive attention the case was getting and the effect it was having on him. He said “we are looking at our options” with regards to the SAPS “talking to the media/public”.
Sanibonani. pic.twitter.com/za08CXpHF2
— Sjava indlalifa (@Sjava_atm) March 3, 2020
In other news – Jailed musician Pitch Black Afro ruthlessly beaten up by police after murdering his wife
Rapper Pitch Black Afro, real name Thulani Ngcobo, has accused the top cop who cracked the horrendous Rhodes Park murder-by-drowning and rape case of having forced a confession out of him. The Soweto-born hitmaker stands accused of killing his wife, Catherine Modisane, at a B&B in Yeoville on December 31, 2018. His trial is underway in the South Gauteng High Court.
Ngcobo emerged from the holding cells on Monday in high spirits, greeting his mother and blowing a kiss to her. He cut a quiet figure once proceedings started. The State kicked off a trial within a trial, which would result in a ruling determining on whether the confession Ngcobo had made was admissible or not. Ngcobo wanted the court to rule the confession inadmissible, on the grounds that he did not make it in his own volition. Read more
Source: News365