Sibongile and The Dlaminis star Siyabonga Shibe’s manager has responded to allegations of kidnapping, intimidation and assault levelled against him by his ex-girlfriend Keabetswe Letshwara’s cousin.
According to ZiMoja, the 19-year-old cousin – whose name is Letsoalo – claims that the former The Wife actor kidnapped him on 3 December last year.
EX-GIRLFRIEND’S COUSIN ON ‘KIDNAPPING’ INCIDENT BY SIYABONGA SHIBE
The publication reports that Letsoalo revealed in a police statement that the actor arrived at night in Allanridge, Free State, demanding to see his son. He was reportedly with his eldest daughter, Nomthandazo Ngcobo, who is also his manager.
In an affidavit, Letsoalo alleged that Shibe ordered him to get inside the maroon Hyundai he was driving and they drove around for hours as the actor repeatedly asked him about his son’s whereabouts. According to Letsoalo, Shibe slapped him three times before Ngcobo pulled out a gun and gave it to the actor. The complainant alleged that he panicked when he saw the firearm and told the former Uzalo actor that his son was with his aunt in Thabong.
“They drove to my aunt’s place in Thabong, where they started searching for the child. I then got a chance to escape and hide at my friend’s home,” he added, saying he left his cellphone in the car as he escaped.
According to Free State police spokesperson, Captain Stephen Thakeng, only a case of theft of a cellphone was opened the following day. He revealed that the driver of the car took the cellphone back to the residence of the complainant when he realised he had left it in his car.
“A case was registered for further investigation. The warning statement of a 46-year-old man was obtained. Investigation has been completed and the docket was handed to the prosecutor for a decision,” Thakeng added.
SIYABONGA SHIBE’S DAUGHTER DENIES KIDNAPPING ALLEGATIONS
Shibe’s daughter denied the allegations made by Letsoalo, saying they went the Free State to drop off gifts for her brother but we’re denied access to him by his grandma.
“We decided to ask Karabo to show us where the boy was and he made us drive around for hours and we eventually dropped him and came back without seeing the child,” she said.
Ngcobo also denied the intimidation claims or that a firearm was involved.
“My father would never allow me to carry a gun,” she said.
ACTOR ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS EX
Last month Shibe opened up about his tumultuous relationship with his ex-partner (who is a beautician) in an interview with David Mashabela on his YouTube podcast, King David Studio.
“I’m going through a lot of abuse, a lot of torture from my ex-girlfriend,” he said.
He revealed that he fell in love with Letshwara’s while he was on Scandal! and their son was born in 2013. However, he starred seeing a lot of red flags when they moved in together, including physical aggression and alcohol abuse on his ex’s part.
Shibe alleged that during one incident, after Letshwara had had a couple of drinks, she threatened to cut off his manhood.
“I laughed because I thought it was some joke. She started screaming ‘I’m going to cut off your d****’ and I’m still laughing and then she goes for my crotch with a knife and tore my jeans,” he explained.
The actor – who said he has not seen his son in two years – also accused Letshwara of being an irresponsible and negligent mother.
He claimed that when he got the Uzalo acting gig in 2017, they rekindled their love but it did not work out. Shibe said that Letshwara then moved back to Johannesburg and he remained in Durban with their child. However, she would rarely visit, and when she’d take him to the Free State, she’d leave him with her mother for days on end. In a 2018 interview with TshisaLIVE, Shibe spoke fondly about his relationship with his son.
Shibe further shared several other alarming incidents between him and Letshwara, which included her allegedly using muti on his daughter and also circulating a naked video of her on social media.