Lekompo music sensation Shebeshxt (real name Lehlogonolo Katlego Chauke) faces an increasingly grim legal battle. During his appearance at the Polokwane Regional Court, the State drastically intensified its prosecution by hitting the controversial artist with 11 additional charges.
The 31-year-old musician is now staring down a staggering total of 20 criminal charges. The laundry list of serious allegations leveled against him includes:
- Attempted murder
- Assault
- Possession of an unlicensed firearm
- Malicious damage to property
Defence Frustrated by Docket Delays
Chauke’s defense attorney, Michael Khumalo, voiced immense frustration during court proceedings regarding persistent delays in acquiring the official case docket from the State. Khumalo stressed that the defense team had initially requested these documents while the matter was still sitting at the district court level.
“We requested the docket for purposes of beginning preparations, particularly due to the number and nature of the charges preferred against the accused.” — Michael Khumalo, Defence Lawyer
Given the sudden influx of new charges, the defense noted that preparing their strategy has become a matter of extreme urgency. However, they ultimately accepted the prosecution’s assurance that the docket will finally be handed over by next week.
Upscaling the Legal Team & Health Concerns
As the scale of the trial balloons, the defense is rapidly adjusting its strategy:
- Legal Reinforcements: Khumalo revealed plans to brief and bring an additional advocate onto Shebeshxt’s legal team to handle the complex trial.
- Bail Appeal: The hitmaker remains behind bars after his recent bail application was denied, but his legal representatives confirmed they are actively preparing to appeal that ruling.
- Medical Intervention: Serious health concerns regarding the artist were brought to the court’s attention. The defense successfully requested that Chauke receive immediate medical treatment while in custody. To ensure easy access to his doctors, he will be temporarily held at the Polokwane police station before any potential transfer to a maximum-security correctional facility.
The prosecution also indicated that a new State advocate might take over the case down the line due to conflicting scheduling commitments. The high-stakes matter has been officially postponed to May 28, 2026, for further proceedings.
