Somizi Arrested
Popular South African entertainer Somizi ‘Somgaga’ Mhlongo was over the weekend granted R 1500 bail after having been arrested when he turned himself in, fresh reports reaching our reporters have revealed.
The seasoned entertainer reported to the Sandton police station over the weekend after transport minister Fikile Mbalula opened a case against him on a charge of spreading fake news in line with the Disaster Management Act and lockdown regulations. This follows after Somizi grabbed headlines on Friday when he announced that the country’s nationwide lockdown would be extended by two weeks. He said this just before President Cyril Ramaphosa’s televised national address in which he revealed the very same piece of information
Although Somizi later retracted his statements, claiming that he was just joking and had made a lucky guess, transport minister Fikile Mbalula laid a charge against him since he had earlier cited him as his source.
According to the TimesLive, Police spokesperson Brig Vish Naidoo confirmed the development.
‘He was charged and released on R1,500 bail, pending a court appearance,’ Naidoo said.
Fikile Mbalula also confirmed the development on his official Twitter account whilst responding to ANC MP Boy Mamabolo’s question. Mababolo quizzed Mbalula on Tuesday when police would arrest Somizi and he responded saying:
He was arrested he is on bail.thank
