Television channel Moja Love says a top cop put pressure on the police to act on the arrest of its presenter, Xolani Maphanga.
The new Sizok’thola presenter handed himself over to the police on Tuesday on allegations that he assaulted an elderly woman during the filming of one of the show’s episodes.
The channel’s spokesperson, Nonzwakazi Cekete, said Maphanga told them that it was a case of mistaken identity and that he did not assault anyone during filming.
Remanded in custody
“To cooperate with law enforcement, the presenter handed himself to the Soshanguve police station yesterday along with a member of the security detail,” Cekete said.
Maphanga and his team were remanded in custody until a bail hearing.
“Leading to yesterday’s events, the police from Tshwane had met with the executive of the channel and said they wanted to charge him and the bodyguards for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, but upon handing themselves in, the charges had changed to attempted murder and trespassing,” the channel said.
The channel also revealed that during the meeting, the police indicated that a prominent politician was exerting pressure on them in relation to the case that a female drug lord and her brothers had opened, accusing Maphanga and the bodyguards of assault.
Moja Love accused the politician of interfering with the work of the police.
Matter to be reported to Ipid
“It was within this jurisdiction that the crew found a corrupt cop collecting a bribe from the drug lord.
“Moja Love has footage to this effect and will be reporting this to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate [Ipid],” Cekete alleged.
She added that the channel’s management has heard Maphanga’s side of the story and believes it, but will allow justice to take its course.
“The channel does not advocate for any ill-discipline, and should it discover that there were indeed any unlawful incidents on set, it will take the necessary steps.”
