Alex-based actor clears his name after a man is killed outside his home
When an unidentified man was shot and killed outside the home and pub owned by award-winning kwaito musician and actor GP-Ma Orange in Alexandra, Joburg, last Saturday, word quickly spread that he was involved.
Nothing, he says, could be further from the truth.
The former jailbird-turned-actor, who is also known for his gang-leader role in 90s youth drama series Yizo Yizo, was accused by Helper Bapedi on Facebook, allegedly to turn the community against the actor and musician.
Bapedi shocked masses when he wrote: “GP MaOrange killed a person today morning [last Saturday] by AK47 in Setswetla.”
Upon hearing the news, community members gathered near his house to view the corpse and with the intent to attack, but Matseke-Zulu said he rushed to Alexandra police station to clear his name.
Police spokesperson Mavela Masondo confirmed that a case of defamation of character was registered at the Alexandra police station and later handed to Bramley police.
“A case of defamation of character has been opened. No arrests have been made and an investigation is under way,” said Masondo.
Matseke-Zulu said he did not want to be seen as a murderer in his community and appreciated the support from those who believed that he was not involved in the shooting. “While the incident indeed happened outside my house, I would like to indicate that at the time the confrontation started and guns got drawn, I was in my house sleeping.
“I am told that these people are the same ones who came a day earlier [on Friday] and tried to force to connect electricity illegally around our area in Malboro extension,” he said.
He added that he went to the police station because the “rumours” were both damaging and creating unnecessary panic from his family and friends.
Matseke-Zulu explained that he was now working with other members of the community to ensure that there are no illegal electricity connections in the area, as well as other cri m e s i n t h e neighbourhood.
