Longwe Twala, the son of award-winning record producer and musician, Chicco Twala was on Wednesday, released on warning by the Randburg Magistrate’s Court following his recent arrest.
Longwe’s arrest was orchestrated by his father, who early this month laid a theft complaint against him and his younger brother Sello.
This is after the pair had allegedly broken into his house and stole recording equipment valued at over R200 000 while their father was away overseas on business.
“The Star” previously reported that charges against Sello were dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Just under two weeks ago, the Randburg Magistrate’s Court postponed the case to September 25 in order to allow his legal representative to prepare for the case.
However, this time around, Magistrate Abdul Khan said the accused had already suffered after being held in custody due to multiple postponements.
He was thus released on a warning with strict conditions imposed on him.
Longwe’s legal representative, Reuben Maluleke, successfully argued that his client was not a flight risk.
“The accused is not a flight risk and determined to attend all court proceedings. He has one previous theft conviction from 2001 and would not be able to pay R1 000 as bail because he is unemployed,” he said.
The stolen items also included clothes, household items and equipment.
This was not the first time Twala has handed his son to the authorities. In 2020, Longwe was handed over to the Diepkloof police station for allegedly stealing a cellphone.
His reputation as being implicated in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case and previous convictions almost caused him another prolonged stint after State Prosecutor Esana Moshasha indicated that his father wants him behind bars as he is problematic, however, the magistrate did not agree.
“The Star” further reported previously, that Chicco Twala even though he is convinced that his son is a drug addict, does not believe he is directly involved in the killing of the former Orlando Pirates shot-stopper, Senzo Meyiwa, who was killed in October 2014.
“It is not something new because of his drug lifestyle. As you might know, he has been on drugs. Unfortunately, I had to act and get him arrested,” he had said.
“My son is not a killer. He would never do that. He did not shoot Senzo. I won’t defend my son. “When you say he stole from you, because I know he is a thief, I won’t defend him. If you say he takes drugs because I know he is a druggie, but if you say my son is a murderer ... he shot someone, you are definitely crazy,” Twala previously stated.
The Star