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Lekompo musician Lehlogonolo “Shebeshxt” Chauke will remain behind bars after the High Court in Polokwane dismissed his latest attempt to secure bail.
The Limpopo musician suffered another legal setback on Wednesday when Judge Karim Pillay rejected his bail appeal, finding that he had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances that would justify his release.
This marked Shebeshxt’s fourth attempt to secure bail since his arrest and detention in November 2025.
During the proceedings, Shebeshxt’s legal team argued that several new developments should be taken into consideration, including the birth of his child and his need for specialised medical treatment for a leg injury he sustained before his arrest.
His lawyers also indicated that he was prepared to pay R100,000 bail if the court granted his release.
However, the High Court was not persuaded that these developments amounted to exceptional circumstances.
“Most of the alleged new facts relied upon by the appellant were not genuinely new facts, but merely a repetition, reshuffling or enhancement of the evidence already presented during the initial bail proceedings,” Pillay said.
The defence also challenged the strength of the State’s case against the musician, arguing that the evidence against him was weak enough to warrant his release pending trial.
Judge Pillay, however, found that the arguments presented by the defence did not satisfy the legal requirements under Section 60(11)(a) of the Criminal Procedure Act.
“The order of the magistrate refusing admission to bail cannot be said to have been wrong. Cumulatively, all the facts raised did not establish exceptional circumstances,” the judge said before dismissing the appeal.
Shebeshxt faces a string of serious criminal charges, including attempted murder, culpable homicide, assault and malicious damage to property.
Police investigations have reportedly linked the musician to several additional cases, bringing the number of charges he faces to 21. One charge relating to the illegal possession of a firearm has since been withdrawn by the State.
The latest judgment means the controversial artist will continue to be detained while the criminal proceedings against him move forward.
The decision has also attracted considerable reaction from his supporters, fellow artists and members of the public.
Limpopo Artists Movement chairperson Mpoza Mashabela expressed disappointment following the judgment, while social media users offered mixed reactions to the musician’s continued detention.
One social media user described the case as a warning to young people, writing: “A lesson for the youth. This guy was perpetuating an irresponsible and dangerous culture.”
Another argued that celebrity status should not result in different treatment under the law, saying: “We can not justify crime whether it was committed by a nobody or a celebrity, there is nothing different about this guy.”
For now, Shebeshxt will remain in custody as he awaits further developments in the criminal case against him.
