{
  "id": 17072902,
  "title": "Shebeshxt contradicts himself on police incompetence claim",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/shebeshxt-contradicts-himself-on-police-incompetence-claim",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-29T14:26:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/shebeshxt-contradicts-himself-on-police-incompetence-claim/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Musician Lehlohonolo \"Shebeshxt\" Chauke, also known as \"Shebe Maburna\", has made conflicting statements about his accusation of police incompetence during his bail application at the Polokwane Magistrate's Court. Chauke claimed that police failed to take a statement from his friend, Lehlohonolo \"Ntari\" Molapo, who was the last person he was with prior to his arrest. The state prosecutor, Advocate Kgaugelo Lekoloane, presented evidence that Chauke had previously denied this claim during his bail application. When confronted with audio recordings of the original proceedings, Chauke stood by his affidavit stating that police were incompetent for not taking the statement of Molapo. Chauke and Molapo share a history, as they were both arrested in 2022 for the illegal possession of a firearm. Molapo is also identified as an outstanding suspect in a separate case. Chauke's failure to mention Molapo earlier in his statements is attributed to the lack of knowledge about Molapo's presence at the scene of the alleged incident. The defense questioned Chauke on matters related to the ballistic report, which the prosecutor deemed unfair and not admissible in bail proceedings. The bail application is scheduled to continue over the following days.",
  "summary": "The musician initially said he never called the police incompetent.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}