Thohoyandou – Popular Limpopo comedian Livhuwani Madadzhe, known to many as SABC Livhu, finds himself back behind bars, this time facing fraud charges that dredge up a macabre scheme involving his own mother's alleged fake death. The arrest took place on Monday at the Thohoyandou High Court, where Madadzhe is already on trial for the murder of his wife, Lindelani Nengovhela.
The latest charges stem from allegations that Madadzhe defrauded insurance companies by faking his mother's death to claim payouts. Adding to his legal woes, he is also accused of defrauding a car rental company.
National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) Limpopo spokesperson Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi confirmed the additional charges of theft of a motor vehicle and fraud.
“It is alleged that the accused hired a BMW X3 from the Avis company. Furthermore, he allegedly posed as an agent of Avis and other car rental services on social media, offering vehicles for hire fraudulently,” said Malabi-Dzhangi.
“Madadzhe is also standing trial in the Thohoyandou High Court, sitting at Waterval Magistrate’s Court, for murder and two counts of fraud. It is alleged that he murdered his wife, Lindelani Nengovhela, 32, and disposed of her body in a hole at their homestead.”
Madadzhe's lawyer, Advocate Ntsako Hlongwane, confirmed the comedian is currently in custody. "He is in custody and will be appearing again on the 18th of March 2025 at the Thohoyandou Magistrate Court," Hlongwane told ZiMoja. "He is facing charges of murder, two counts of fraud, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and defeating the ends of justice."
The "fake death" saga unfolded when Madadzhe's mother, Gladys Khomunala, who is very much alive, visited the Sassa offices to apply for a pension grant. It is alleged that Madadzhe used a fake death certificate to make a claim and even erected a fake tombstone at a gravesite to bolster his claims from various insurance companies.
Madadzhe was previously arrested in connection with the alleged fraud in 2017, alongside his then-girlfriend. He was released on R5,000 bail, but the case was later withdrawn.
At the time of committing these alleged offences, Madadzhe was out on R50,000 bail under the following conditions: no interference with state witnesses, no further criminal activities, and reporting to Sandton police station every Monday and Friday between 8am and 4pm,” according to the NPA.
The comedian's most serious charge remains the murder of his wife, Lindelani Nengovhela, whose body was discovered in a pit toilet at their home outside Thohoyandou in Limpopo. He was released on R50,000 bail after several months in custody.
Following his court appearance on Wednesday, the case against Madadzhe has been postponed to March 18 for a bail application. His high court trial is scheduled to continue on March 17.
Madadzhe's legal troubles mirror a similar case involving another public figure. Last year, IOL reported that former SA Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) Thobela FM drive show host Sebasa Mogale and his wife Dorah Mogale appeared before the Polokwane Magistrate’s court, facing allegations of fraud emanating from a cryptocurrency Bitcoin scam.
IOL has previously reported that Mogale, popularly known as Dr Hlongwane on the SABC 1 hit series “Skeem Saam”, was embroiled in a Bitcoin scandal which saw around 140 people, including Thobela FM’s loyal listeners, losing their life savings.
As Madadzhe awaits his next court appearance, the once-beloved comedian faces a grim reality: the possibility of spending a significant portion of his life behind bars, his reputation tarnished by a series of shocking allegations.
