Shebeshxt's bail bid resumes Wednesday at 11:30. What happens next

Lekompo star Shebeshxt (Lehlogonolo Chauke) is back in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Wednesday, 11 November, for the next round of his third bail bid. Court starts at 11:30, and he stays in custody until then (SABC News).

Monday's sitting lasted only minutes. Magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi postponed the matter because the prosecutor was ill, and remanded it to Wednesday for the defence to re-examine Chauke (SABC News). Defence advocate Mutheiwana Sikhwari told the court both sides had agreed to the postponement, according to a Daily Sun report cited by The African Chronicle (The African Chronicle).

What happens in court on Wednesday?

The defence picks up where it left off: re-examining Chauke after the State's cross-examination, which ran over two days (SABC News; SABC News). His legal team has also been preparing to call a forensic ballistics expert (The African Chronicle).

The hearing had been set down for 9 to 12 November, so Monday's lost day leaves less time to finish it this week (IOL). Whether the magistrate rules on bail this week has not been announced.

What is a bail application on new facts?

When bail has already been refused, an accused person can apply again only by showing new facts that weren't before the court the first time. Chauke's defence says it has new facts, including disputed ballistic evidence and questions about the investigation (IOL).

The magistrate turned down an earlier new-facts bid in April, finding that "all the circumstances were available during the initial bail application" (The African Chronicle, citing TimesLIVE).

What is Shebeshxt charged with?

He faces 21 charges, including four counts of attempted murder (SABC News). The other charges include robbery with aggravating circumstances, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, common assault, reckless and negligent driving, malicious damage to property and culpable homicide (The African Chronicle; IOL).

The attempted murder charges relate to an alleged shooting in Ladanna, Polokwane, on 19 October 2025, in which a man was wounded. The culpable homicide charge relates to a separate car crash on 8 June 2024 (IOL; The African Chronicle).

Chauke has not been convicted. The charges are allegations, and he says the State doesn't have a strong case (IOL).

What do the two sides argue?

During cross-examination, prosecutor Kgaugelo Lekoloane accused Chauke of lying and avoiding questions. Chauke denied misleading the court and said some of the confusion was a misunderstanding (The Citizen).

How long has he been in custody?

Chauke was arrested in November 2025 and has been in custody since (IOL). He was refused bail twice in the magistrate's court and lost appeals in the Limpopo High Court, most recently in August (The African Chronicle; IOL).

When is the trial?

His trial in the Polokwane Regional Court is scheduled for May 2027 (The Citizen). The bail hearing is a separate process and doesn't decide whether he's guilty.