Shebeshxt’s legal woes have deepened, and his attorney, Lot Ramusi, is scrambling to catch up before the controversial artist returns to the Polokwane High Court on Thursday.
Ramusi revealed that he was taken by surprise when prosecutors announced that six older charges would now be added to the musician’s current attempted murder case.
“I was not aware of the previous charges and their merit. I still need to consult with Chauke to get clarity,” he admitted, saying he needed more time to study the newly added matters “so that we can see whether the state has a tight case against my client.”
Despite the setback, Ramusi insists his priority is to secure bail for the musician, born Lehlogonolo “Shebeshxt” Chauke, arguing that the star has far too much at stake to remain behind bars during the festive season.
“He has a lot to lose if he doesn’t get bail. As you might know, he is one of the most fully booked artists for performances throughout the festive season,” the lawyer said.
The six additional charges now merged with the current docket include three counts of attempted murder, possession of an unlicensed firearm, malicious damage to property and robbery with intent to cause bodily harm.
A warrant linked to these charges was first issued in 2023 and never withdrawn.
Ramusi described the state’s move as an “ambush”, saying he would go through each charge thoroughly before determining the strength of the case: “I will need to go through each and every charge so that I understand the merit of each one.”
The latest attempted murder case arises from a shooting in Ladanna, outside Polokwane, on 19 October.
Police said the suspect allegedly got into a heated argument with another driver and later fired multiple shots at the victim’s vehicle.
The 34-year-old man was seriously injured and taken to hospital.
Initially handled by Westernburg SAPS, the case was later escalated to the Provincial Investigation Unit.
A new warrant was issued on Tuesday and executed the following day, with police also seizing two vehicles belonging to the musician for forensic testing.