Impostor denied bail

Sibusiso John Gcabashe, charged with fraud and perjury after impersonating late KwaZulu-Natal maskandi artist Khulekani “Mgqumeni” Khumalo, also faces charges of rape and theft.

Gcabashe was declared fit to stand trial and denied bail in the Nquthu Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday.

Police are investigating three other criminal acts alleged to have been committed by Gcabashe in KZN.

He is facing charges of rape in Ixopo; theft in Umlazi, where a cellphone and money was stolen; and theft in Khombe.

In court on Wednesday, the State presented a mental report from two psychiatrists at the Fort Napier Hospital, a mental institution in Pietermaritzburg where Gcabashe underwent mental observation.

His admission to the hospital was recommended by a psychiatrist at Madadeni Provincial Hospital in Amajuba district after he failed to give the State a clear mental diagnosis.

Gcabashe was asked by the State to take the witness stand for the formal bail application and cross-examination.

While in the witness box, he kept looking at his cellphone.

In a courtroom packed with Mgqumeni’s relatives and fans, Gcabashe was asked to tell the court his full names.

“I am Sibusiso John Gcabashe,” he said with a stern voice.

But when Gcabashe was asked by State prosecutor Sam Mpungose whether he was Khulekani Kwakhe “Mgqumeni” Khumalo, he said: “I will answer that question during the trial.”

He intends to plead not guilty to the charges.

Emotions ran high in the public gallery, with Mgqumeni’s relatives failing to hold back tears after Gcabashe announced his full names.

Last month, Gcabashe made national headlines after claiming to be Khumalo, who died in Johannesburg in December 2009 on his way to see a traditional healer.

He was buried in January 2010 in Mpofana, a rural area in Nquthu, in a high-profile funeral attended by politicians, radio personalities and scores of fans.

Asked to motivate why the State should grant him bail, Gcabashe said he has nine children to support and he wanted to continue looking for employment in the taxi industry.

If granted bail, Gcabashe said he would stay with his aunt Sibongile kaMajola Gcabashe in Maqonqo, near Pietermaritzburg, where he grew up.

When the Daily News visited Sibongile last month, she made it clear that she had disowned him and wanted nothing to do with him.

This was also mentioned in court.

Investigating officer Eric Maphari said the rape and theft allegations were made after the victims saw Gcabashe’s pictures in the media when he made his first public appearance as the “resurrected” Mgqumeni last month.

Gcabashe has three previous convictions.

In 2005, he was convicted in Wartburg of theft and deemed unfit to have in his possession a legal firearm.

Gcabashe was sentenced to five months’ imprisonment.

The following year in Inanda, he was convicted of a theft and was fined R8 000 or two years imprisonment, but the charges were suspended for five years. In 2007, he was convicted in Naledi, Joburg, of fraud and perjury.

Gcabashe was fined R6 000 or 18 months’ imprisonment, which was suspended for five years.

He refused to tell the court whether he had any intention to apologise to Mgqumeni’s maternal family, the Mselekus, and paternal family, the Khumalos.

The State opposed bail because Gcabashe’s safety could not be guaranteed and the address he had submitted to the court belonged to relatives who had disowned him.

The media coverage of Gcabashe’s case would also be detrimental to his safety, the state said.

Magistrate Mphumeleli Nkosi said it was in the interest of justice that the bail application be denied.

The mental reports will be used as evidence in court.

The case was adjourned to April 13 for further police investigation and for statements to be obtained from State witnesses.