Cape Town - The man accused of attempting to hijack Generations: The Legacy star Rapulana Seiphemo was denied bail by the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Thursday after it emerged he had been evading police for the past three years.
Investigating officer Constable Piet Shabalala told the court that Nathi Msiza, 26, has three outstanding warrants of arrest dating back to 2012.
Shabalala told the court Msiza had a warrant of arrest against him after he was arrested by Brooklyn police in 2013 for allegedly shoplifting a “pink women’s shirt” worth R1 145 at an Atterbury store.
“The accused was to appear in the Hatfield Magistrate’s Court but didn’t.
“A summons was issued. Later a warrant of arrest was issued and his identity was circulated by police,” Shabalala testified.
He said the second warrant of arrest was issued by Sandton police in 2012 after he was allegedly arrested for theft.
“It was difficult to trace him because he gave the investigating officers false names and addresses.
“I traced him through fingerprints and the help of Home Affairs.”
Shabalala told the court that another warrant of arrest was issued by Silverton police on a separate matter of theft but he did not have details of it as he could not get hold of the investigating officer handling that case.
Handing down her judgment, magistrate Kiru Pillay said Msiza provided the court with false information pertaining to his previous convictions and pending cases despite being informed about the consequences.
“The applicant (Msiza) withheld knowledge of at least three pending cases against him.
“The charges faced by the applicant are of an extremely serious nature. If convicted, a lengthy sentence will most likely be imposed. The applicant absconded on other charges of a less serious nature. It can be accepted that he might evade this trial because of the serious charges he is facing.”
Pillay said: “The likelihood is that, if given bail, you will abscond.”
Msiza and Tebogo Makunyane, 34, are accused of attempting to hijack Seiphemo on Valentine’s Day.
Msiza is also accused of defeating the ends of justice by lying about his whereabouts on the day of the incident and planning to escape from hospital. The hijacking attempt led to a fatal crash. Three people died, including Msiza’s alleged accomplice Makunyane.
The Star