Lekompo musician Shebeshxt now faces 20 charges after the State added 11 new counts to his criminal case at the Polokwane Regional Court on Friday 15 May 2026. He remains in custody. Photo @CrimeWatch_RSA
Lekompo musician Lehlogonolo Katlego Chauke, known as Shebeshxt, appeared before the Polokwane Regional Court on Friday as the State formally added 11 new charges to his already serious criminal case. The musician now faces a total of 20 counts spanning offences allegedly committed between January 2022 and February 2025. He remains in custody and the matter has been postponed to 28 May 2026.
The legal troubles of popular Lekompo musician Lehlogonolo Katlego Chauke, known professionally as Shebeshxt, have deepened significantly after the State added 11 new charges to his criminal case on Friday 15 May 2026. Chauke, 31, appeared before the Polokwane Regional Court where the additional charges were formally presented, bringing the total number of charges he faces to 20. The defence has pushed back firmly against the additions and intends to approach the High Court over the matter.
The Full List of Charges
Chauke now faces a total of 20 counts spanning a period of alleged offences between January 2022 and February 2025. The charges include robbery with aggravating circumstances, multiple counts of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition, discharging a firearm in a built-up area, assault, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, attempted murder and malicious damage to property.
The 11 new charges added by the State on Friday represent a significant escalation of the case. Among the newly added counts is robbery with aggravating circumstances — a serious charge that carries substantial sentencing implications. The additions drew a pointed response from the defence, which characterised the new charges as an overreach and indicated its intention to fight them aggressively.
Defence Pushes Back
Chauke’s legal representative responded sharply to the addition of the new charges in court on Friday. The defence indicated it intends to approach the High Court to appeal the dismissal of Chauke’s third bail application, which had been rejected by the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court. The bail appeal would run concurrently with the main criminal proceedings, which are now moving toward a trial date.
The court postponed the matter to 28 May 2026 to allow the State to complete disclosure of witness statements to the defence. The court confirmed that Chauke had no right of appearance at this stage and that his legal representative Khumalo would continue acting on his behalf in the interim.
Medical Care Ordered
In a development that drew public attention, the court has ordered that Chauke receive medical care while in custody. Chauke has previously raised medical concerns stemming from a car accident, with his legal team arguing that his health needs were not being adequately addressed while he remained behind bars. The court’s decision to order medical care represents an acknowledgement of those concerns, though the magistrate had previously found his health arguments insufficient to justify bail.
How It All Began
Chauke was arrested on 12 November 2025 in an intelligence-driven operation in the upmarket suburb of Bendor outside Polokwane after detectives secured a warrant of arrest the previous day. The arrest followed an alleged road-rage incident in Ladanna, Polokwane, on 19 October 2025, in which a complainant and a friend were driving along Witklip Street when they spotted Chauke and greeted him as fans. According to court papers, Chauke allegedly responded by asking if they were not proud of him before allegedly firing a shot in their direction. The bullet reportedly struck the complainant in the neck and jaw. The window of the witness’s vehicle was also damaged. The injured victim was hospitalised following the incident.
Police seized Chauke’s vehicles for forensic analysis during the arrest operation. Investigations subsequently revealed that he had additional pending cases in other policing areas, which were consolidated, initially bringing the total to nine charges. Multiple subsequent bail applications have been denied, with the court consistently finding that Chauke is a Schedule 6 offender who failed to demonstrate the exceptional circumstances required for release. A High Court appeal in January 2026 was also dismissed.
In a separate matter Chauke appeared before the Lebowakgomo Regional Court in February 2026 on additional charges. In February 2026 he was also allegedly found with banned substances in his prison cell — an allegation his lawyer Lot Ramusi denied categorically. “It is a lie that my client was found with drugs. He had no prohibited substances and these charges are baseless,” Ramusi said at the time.
A Career on Hold
Shebeshxt is one of South Africa’s most recognisable figures in the Lekompo genre — a fusion of traditional Limpopo music styles that has taken the country’s entertainment scene by storm in recent years. His hit song Ambulance became a cultural phenomenon and his performances commanded significant fees before his arrest. He has been behind bars since November 2025, missing the festive season, his daughter’s birth and months of bookings estimated to be worth over R1 million.
His partner Kholofelo Moloto gave birth to their daughter in December 2025 while Chauke remained in custody. The couple had previously lost their nine-year-old daughter Onthatile Chuene in a fatal car accident in June 2024.
Despite his incarceration, Chauke’s fanbase has remained vocal in their support online, with many followers calling for his release and questioning the State’s handling of his case. His legal team continues to fight the charges and the bail refusals at every available avenue.
What Happens Next
The matter returns to the Polokwane Regional Court on 28 May 2026 for disclosure of witness statements. The defence is simultaneously preparing a High Court bail appeal. With 20 charges now formally on the record, the case is moving toward what is expected to be a lengthy and complex trial process.
Editors Note Lehlogonolo Katlego Chauke is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. All charges referenced in this article are unproven and will be tested in court. Mzansi Today Live will update this article as further information becomes available.