The new presenter of Moja Love's Sizok'thola Xolani Maphanga who handed himself over to the police on Tuesday after he was charged with assault says he did not assault anyone and believes this is a case of mistaken identity. This week, the South African Police Services (SAPS) overturned the assault charge to attempted murder against Maphanga and his security detail.

A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Maphanga is currently held at the Soshanguve Police Station, and he is expected to appear in court soon for bail application. Moja Love TV Channels confirmed that Maphanga was still in custody. "Following the arrest of the new Sizok'thola presenter, Xolani Maphanga, on allegations that he assaulted an old lady during the filming of one of the episodes, Moja LOVE (DStv 157) would like to put it on record that the presenter has admitted that it was a case of mistaken identity and maintains he did not assault anyone during filming," the channel said in a statement. The statement went on to say the drug-busting show presenter handed himself to the police on Tuesday along with a member of his security detail. The two appeared in court and were remanded in custody until a bail hearing.

PRESSURE FROM THE TOP

According to the channel, leading to Maphanga's arrest on Tuesday, the police from Tshwane had met with the executive of the channel and said they wanted to charge him and the bodyguards with assault GBH but upon handing themselves in, the charges had changed to attempted murder and trespassing. In the statement, the channel further said that in the same meeting, the police indicated that they were getting pressure from a top politician regarding the case that was opened by a female drug lord, alongside her brothers who were accusing Maphanga and the bodyguards of assault. "The channel expressed concern that politicians were interfering with the work of the police. It was within this jurisdiction, that the crew found a corrupt cop collecting payola from the drug lord. Moja LOVE has footage to this effect and will be reporting this to the Independent Police Investigate Directorate (IPID)," the statement read.

CHANNEL DOESN'T CONDONE VIOLENCE

Moja Love also said that they have heard Maphanga's side of the story and respects it but will allow the course of justice to take its place. "The channel does not advocate for any ill-discipline, and should it discover that there were indeed any unlawful incidents on set, it will take the necessary steps,". The channel maintains that they will continue to fight the spread of drugs in the country without fear or favour and that they will do so by following the laws and regulations of South Africa. "Sizok'thola is an important property of the channel as it exposes the extent of the drug problem in our communities and aims at rooting out the rot of drug lords and drug dealers. We continue to appeal to the public to report any illegal activities to the police and emphasise again that we are deeply invested in contributing positively to our society. The channel will cooperate fully with law enforcement,"