Longwe is a snake and a thief, only death can change him: Chicco Twala wants son to rot in jail (WATCH VIDEO)

RANDBURG – Music mogul Chicco Twala is heartbroken and furious. His son, Longwe Twala, is back in the headlines, but this time not for his alleged involvement in the Senzo Meyiwa murder trial, but for a crime closer to home – stealing from his own father.

Chicco, visibly emotional, addressed the media outside the Randburg Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 4 September, where Longwe, along with his brother Sello, appeared on charges of housebreaking and theft.

The charges stem from an incident over the weekend where the brothers allegedly broke into their father's studio and stole equipment worth thousands of rands.

"My son is a drug addict. He has been an addict since the age of 17 years old. I have taken him to over 30 rehab centres and we have tried to help him as a family, but we failed," Chicco revealed while his voice was laced with a mixture of sadness and anger.

Chicco explained that despite numerous attempts at rehabilitation, Longwe's addiction has continued to plague him, leading him down a destructive path.

"I left for the USA, I sat down with Longwe for more than three hours and he was doing well. He was from rehabilitation when I left and he was doing well. He was also looking good and healthy," Chicco said.

However, this hope was short-lived.

"He would come back, jump the fence, and take more stuff. They colluded with his brother, so right now they are in the holding cells," Chicco revealed as he detailed Longwe's pattern of stealing and disappearing.

"I opened a case for both my sons Longwe and Twala, the fact that they are my kids means nothing. They stole my equipment some of which I won't know as I didn't use this equipment every day. Some I bought and kept them in the studio. As I am talking to you, I am heading to the studio to check what exactly did they take. They even took my clothes,” he said in an interview.

Chicco's frustration is palpable. He feels he has exhausted all options, from countless rehab stints to offering Longwe a chance to take over his business.

"For the past 23 years, we did everything to help Longwe. That is why I can open a case against him because I did everything, but it seems like helping him enables his behaviour. That boy is a snake, he will never change. The only thing that will change that boy is death because he doesn't have limits. As long as he is alive, he will continue like this, that is why I went where they smoke drugs because the police couldn't find him so that they can arrest him for what he did," Chicco said.

Chicco also addressed the ongoing Senzo Meyiwa trial, where Longwe is implicated. He quickly clarified that this arrest and the Senzo trial are two separate cases and this is not to distract anyone from the trial.

"This has nothing to do with Senzo and I am not distracting the trial as haters on social media say," he said.

Chicco maintains his son's innocence in the Meyiwa case.

"The people accusing him of murder are psychopaths- they are mad! This has nothing to do with Senzo. I know my son; he is a thief and a druggie but he is not a killer. Longwe has never carried a gun in his life. The shooting Senzo theory is nonsense. I know he didn't do it, he did not shoot Senzo," he said.

Chicco's love for his son is evident, but his disappointment and frustration are equally clear. He believes that the only way to stop Longwe's destructive path is to hold him accountable for his actions.

"I want them to face the law," Chicco said. "It is enough, they have been doing this for years now they have to suffer the consequences because it is not the first time, they have done this, even with my credit cards. They would steal my credit cards and buy drugs, but I have reached the point where I am enough because I can see this won't end."

He believes that Longwe's addiction has made him a danger to himself and others.

"I'd rather have him in jail than he be hooked on drugs. I'm grateful that he's okay and he must just live his life in jail. My other son Sello is not into drugs and alcohol. I was just surprised by his actions," he said.

Chicco said he loves Longwe with all his heart and wishes he could use his skills as a sound engineer to work.

"I wish he could change his ways as this is too much for me. I hope he learns to be a better man now," he said.