Controversial music executive Nhlamulo "Nota" Baloyi's Thursday appearance at the Randburg Magistrates Court took an unexpected turn, resulting in his immediate imprisonment. While present for a scheduled hearing in his ongoing rape case, Baloyi was unexpectedly arrested and subsequently jailed for a separate matter – contempt of court.
The arrest stemmed from a court order obtained by rapper K.O (Ntokozo Mdluli) following Baloyi's controversial social media posts. These posts, made in February 2023 following the tragic death of hip-hop star AKA (Kiernan Forbes), implicated K.O in the murder. Baloyi alleged that K.O's brother, Siya Mdluli (AKA's road manager), was present when AKA was shot dead in Durban and further suggested a conspiracy involving K.O.
"He stated that K.O’s brother, Siya Mdluli, who was AKA’s road manager, was present when the artist was killed. The rapper was shot dead by unknown assailants in Durban, who connived with him, Baloyi wrote. Because of that, Baloyi thought they were implicated in AKA’s murder."
K.O subsequently secured a court interdict, demanding Baloyi cease disseminating these accusations. The order, which has been reviewed, explicitly stated: “The Sheriff of the court and the South African Police Service are directed to take the respondent into custody and to deliver the respondent to the Leeuwkop Prison or any other prison within Gauteng for a period of sixty days.”
Baloyi's blatant disregard for this court order led to his conviction for contempt of court in March 2023, resulting in a 60-day prison sentence. However, his absence from the sentencing hearing due to reported mental health issues delayed his incarceration until Thursday.
The dramatic arrest unfolded during Baloyi's appearance for his rape case, where he was initially out on bail. This case, involving allegations of rape against an actress and singer, Itumeleng Bokaba, had been previously postponed to verify WhatsApp conversations between Baloyi and his accuser. Baloyi's attorney, Matamela Khorommbi, confirmed that the police failed to provide the necessary case files to the court.
“As we stand, we don’t know whether those WhatsApp chats were verified or not, so we’ve postponed for the docket and the outcome of the consultation,” Khorommbi explained.
The rape case has now been adjourned until 28 January 2025 to allow the state prosecutor sufficient time to consult with the complainant. This postponement leaves the future of the rape case uncertain, with many aspects of the investigation still unresolved.
The events of Thursday were particularly jarring for those present in court. Baloyi's arrest occurred while both his accuser, Bokaba, and her family were in attendance. Baloyi's parents were also present, adding to the emotional weight of the situation.
Mr Khorommbi further elaborated on the postponement of the rape case, stating: “The docket was not before court today; the court could not get hold of the investigating officer. As things stand, we do not know whether those WhatsApp chats were verified or not. So the matter has been postponed for docket and for the outcomes of the consultations,”
Nota’s initial appearance in the rape case was on Monday, 7 October, following his surrender to authorities on Friday, 4 October, and a weekend spent in custody. He was granted R5 000 bail at that time. The charges against him remain serious, and the lengthy postponement to January 2025 underscores the complexities and challenges inherent in the ongoing investigation.
