The Thohoyandou High Court in Limpopo has delayed the sentencing of comedian and social media influencer Livhuwani Madadzhe until Friday due to conflicting legal applications he submitted.
Livhuwani Madadzhe, a comedian and social media influencer, appeared before the Thohoyandou High Court in Limpopo for his fraud case. He has pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud after faking his mother's death to claim insurance money while she was still alive. The court postponed his sentencing to Friday following submissions of contradictory applications.
Madadzhe approached the Constitutional Court to challenge Judge Thogomelani Tshidada's revocation of his bail and requested the high court for a pre-sentencing report. He indicated plans for four applications before the judge. However, after his lawyers withdrew, Judge Tshidada required clarification on whether Madadzhe would represent himself.
Madadzhe submitted a document seeking re-submission of facts to review the bail revocation. The judge discovered he had already petitioned the Constitutional Court for her recusal. In response, Judge Tshidada stated: “Unfortunately, in law it is not permissible because it amounts to duplication of processes, you then have to decide whether to pursue what clearly appears to be an appeal of some orders I granted in this matter against you at the Constitutional Court because you cannot run parallel processes on the same issue. In simple terms, it would appear as if you are fishing on both sides that whichever comes first, you will go with it – and we cannot as the judiciary nor allow any litigant to do forum shopping.”
The postponement allows Madadzhe time to choose his course of action. While in the dock, he requested permission to see his baby, born on Christmas Day, but the judge denied it, noting he could do so at the correctional facility.
Separately, Madadzhe faces murder charges related to his partner, Lindelani Nengovhela, killed in 2023. In a May 2023 proceeding, the court warned him against evasion tactics, including soliciting sick notes to avoid testimony.
