Metro FM deejay Dineo Ranaka has thrown Idols judge and cohost Somizi Mhlongo under the bus in his case against Minister of Transport Fikile Mbalula, the Sunday World reports!
READ – Somizi Mhlongo still investigated for lockdown “joke”!
According to the publication, Dineo Ranaka, who is expected to be a state witness, was subpoenaed by the National Prosecuting Authority to answer questions in relation to the case of misinformation or spreading of fake news opened by Mbalula at Sandton police station last year.
Fikile Mbalula opened a case against Mhlongo for allegedly breaching the disaster management regulations related to “information dissemination and misinformation”.
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According to the publication, hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that South Africa’s coronavirus lockdown would be extended until the end of April 2020, Somizi Mhlongo had asserted in an Instagram video that Fikile Mbalula had given him a heads-up about the extension.
Somizi Mhlongo subsequently apologized to Mbalula for his “joke”, but Mbalula still proceeded to lay charges against him.
The Sunday World reports that the startling news that Ranaka had given a differing view from that of Somizi Mhlongo was revealed by a law agent who did not want to be named because they were not allowed to speak to the media.
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The paper’s source said the matter started when Somizi Mhlongo, in his preparation for the trial, made representations through his lawyers in which he said that he was only joking when he said Fikile Mbalula informed him that Cyril Ramaphosa was going to put the country on alert level 2 of lockdown.
The mole (according to the paper), who is close to the case, said Dineo Ranaka has in the statement sent to the prosecutors contradicted Mhlongo’s version of events.
Dineo Ranaka said, added the agent, Somizi Mhlongo did not indicate immediately that he was joking when he made the announcement.
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Dineo Ranaka, according to the paper’s deepthroat, told prosecutors that she was chatting to her fans on Instagram Live when Mhlongo chimed in uninvited and made the announcement.
She said Somizi Mhlongo only announced later that his remarks about Mbalula and the lockdown were a bad joke and later apologized to the politician.
“That is the problem because he only said he was joking later. So, Dineo couldn’t lie under oath because she could be charged with perjury. She had to tell the truth,” said the agent.
READ – Fikile Mbalula to open a case against Idols SA Judge Somizi!
However, the apology was not enough for Mbalula, who retaliated by opening a case against him.
Late last year (2020) Somizi Mhlongo appeared at the Randburg Magistrate Court for the same case. See the video below:
While you were busy preparing for your Christmas, @Somizi Mhlongo was busy bidding at the Randburg Magistrate Court. He appeared on 11th Dec for contravention of the Disaster Management Act. When he announced #LockdownSA regulations claiming @MbalulaFikile informed him. 😂🤣😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/eNrNc3OLkP
— Mgosi.co.za (@Mgosi_SA) January 11, 2021
MGOSI.co.za
