Courts & Legal
SAPS seeks extradition of Malloti over 2017 Western Cape armed robbery case
The spotlight has shifted from the stage to the courtroom for Zimbabwean musician and social media personality Malloti, after the South African Police Service confirmed she is wanted in connection with a 2017 armed robbery case in the Western Cape.
According to SAPS, a warrant of arrest was issued by the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court for an accused identified as Namatai Bhobho. The charge relates to robbery with a firearm, linked to a Rondebosch case registered in November 2017 under case number CAS 78/11/2017.
Warrant issued in Wynberg
Western Cape police spokesperson Captain F.C. Van Wyk confirmed that the matter has been removed from the court roll pending the arrest of the accused. This is a procedural step often taken when a suspect cannot be located.
Police further confirmed that the docket has been handed to the Director of Public Prosecutions after authorities received information that the accused is believed to be living in Zimbabwe. The DPP’s office is now expected to initiate steps to trace and extradite her back to South Africa.
Authorities have not released further details about the alleged robbery itself.
Identity questions emerge
The warrant issued in South Africa names the accused as Namatai Bhobho. However, Zimbabwean state media has previously identified the musician’s legal name as Millicent Tsitsi Chimonyo in separate court proceedings in Harare.
SAPS has confirmed that Namatai Bhobho is the name that appears on the South African warrant. Officials have not publicly clarified whether the different names refer to the same individual.
The identity discrepancy has added another layer of intrigue to an already high-profile case, particularly given Malloti’s active public presence as a dancehall performer and influencer.
A public figure under scrutiny
Malloti, who previously lived in South Africa before returning to Zimbabwe, remains active online and in entertainment circles. In recent years, she has appeared in Zimbabwean courts in unrelated matters. Reports in Zimbabwe have confirmed her identity as Millicent Chimonyo in those proceedings, where she was granted bail.
She has also been involved in a widely publicised dispute with Zimbabwean cleric and socialite Passion Java. The matter generated intense online exchanges and drew significant media attention across Zimbabwe.
More recently, a Zimbabwean tabloid linked her to controversy surrounding BronCleer, a cough mixture that has been banned and is often abused recreationally. The coverage sparked debate and backlash on social media.
Despite the controversies, SAPS has made it clear that the current extradition process relates specifically to the Western Cape armed robbery case.
“Hiding in plain sight”
Zimbabwean investigative journalist Maynard Manyowa has described the situation as extraordinary, noting that she has remained highly visible despite being wanted in connection with a serious offence.
His remarks have fuelled online discussion, with some social media users questioning how someone with an active public profile could face such allegations while continuing to perform and post content openly.
The case has reignited debate about cross-border law enforcement and the challenges of tracking suspects who move between countries but maintain celebrity status.
What happens next?
With the docket now before the Director of Public Prosecutions, the matter has entered the international cooperation stage. South Africa and Zimbabwe have extradition arrangements that allow individuals facing criminal charges to be returned to the requesting country, subject to legal processes in both jurisdictions.
If a formal extradition request proceeds, Zimbabwean courts would ultimately decide whether she is returned to South Africa to face the armed robbery charge.
For now, the case remains active and developing. What is clear is that a 2017 case registered in Rondebosch has resurfaced in a very public way, placing a controversial performer at the centre of a cross-border legal battle that could soon move from headlines to the courtroom.
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Source: IOL
Featured Image: zimlive.com
