The skeletons of the past have resurfaced to haunt popular Limpopo comedian Livhuwani Madadzhe, also known as SABC Livhu. On Monday, Madadzhe was arrested at the Thohoyandou High Court, where he is on trial for the murder of his wife. In the latest arrest, he is charged with fraud for allegedly faking his mother's death for insurance money. He was also charged with defrauding a car rental company.

FAKE DEATH

The funnyman was previously arrested and is still facing the charge for the murder of his wife, Lindelani Nengovhela, whose body was discovered inside a pit toilet at their home outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo. He was released after a few months behind bars on R50 000 bail. His mom, Gladys Khomunala, who is still alive, made the discovery when visiting the Sassa offices to apply for a pension grant. He was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend in 2017 and released on R5,000 bail. The case was later withdrawn. Livhuwani allegedly used a fake death certificate to make a claim and built a fake tombstone at the gravesite to claim his mom's death from different insurance companies.

FACING MORE CHARGES

National Prosecuting Authority Limpopo spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi said Madadzhe is facing additional charges of theft of a motor vehicle and fraud. "It is alleged that the accused hired a BMW X3 from the Avis company. Thereafter, he posted himself on social media as an agent of Avis car rental and Hertz, offering vehicles for hire. The accused is also on trial, facing charges of murder and two counts of fraud in the Thohoyandou High Court sitting in Watervaal Magistrates Court. It is alleged that he killed his wife, Lindelani Nengovhela (32), and threw her body into a hole in their homestead," Malabi-Dzhangi said. She said Madadzhe's fraud matter was postponed to 18 March 2025 for a bail application, and he is also scheduled to appear in the High Court for trial on Monday, 17 March 2025. 

BACK BEHIND BARS

Madadzhe's lawyer, Advocate Ntsako Hlongwane, confirmed the comedian is currently in custody. "He is in custody and will be appearing again on the 18th of March 2025 at the Thohoyandou Magistrate Court," Hlongwane told ZiMoja. "He is facing charges of murder, two counts of fraud, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and defeating the ends of justice."