From TV Screens to Real-Life Drama: Siyabonga Shibe Caught in Kidnapping and Assault Scandal
In a case that seems ripped from the pages of a suspense novel, well-known actor Siyabonga Shibe, faces serious accusations of kidnapping, assault, and theft involving a relative of his former spouse from Thabong in the Free State.
Currently playing the role of a strict husband and father in the Mzansi Wethu telenovela “Sibongile and the Dlaminis,” Shibe allegedly abducted 19-year-old Karabo Patrick Letsoalo in December of last year, as per Letsoalo’s detailed police statement recounting the incident.
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Reality Imitating Fiction: Siyabonga Shibe in Kidnapping, Assault, and Theft Scandal
Letsoalo recounted the events, stating that Shibe arrived at his Allanridge home around 9:30 pm on December 3rd, driving a maroon Hyundai accompanied by his elder daughter, Nomthandazo Ngcobo, and another passenger.
Shibe then demanded to know the whereabouts of his child but Letsoalo feigned ignorance. Subsequently, Shibe instructed Letsoalo to get into the car, and they departed, driving on the R30 Road. The driver eventually stopped the vehicle near the Mine 3 target shaft, at which point Shibe continued his interrogations about the child.
Letsoalo alleges that Shibe slapped him three times, causing him to cry. Additionally, he claims that Shibe’s daughter, Nomthandazo, produced a pistol from the car and handed it to her father. Faced with the firearm, Letsoalo disclosed the child’s location, stating that the child was in Thabong.
“On seeing the firearm, I then told Siya that his child was 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 recounted.
Letsoalo also mentioned losing his phone during the ordeal, as he had to abandon it while fleeing from Shibe as he searched for his son.
Controversy Surrounding Siyabonga Shibe
This is not the first time that Shibe, known for his role in the 2003 movie “James’s Journey To Jerusalem,” has found himself mired in controversy.
Last December, he allegedly deserted his family following the arrival of Nomthandazo, who claimed to be his long-lost daughter. Shibe’s brother Nathi disclosed that the actor even distanced himself from their mother and ceased providing for her when she warned him about Nomthandazo. Just the previous month, four students accused him of reneging on promises to cover their college fees at a film school, causing some to drop out due to financial constraints.
Also read: The Wife Actor Siyabonga Shibe Abandons Mother For Alleged Enstranged Daughter
Manager’s Response
Efforts to reach Shibe for comment were unsuccessful, but Nomthandazo, who also serves as his manager, refuted the allegations, asserting that their visit to his ex’s residence was to peacefully deliver Christmas and birthday gifts for their son.
“Those people are lying, dad and I went there to drop off gifts and his grandma then refused us access to my brother. 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. She also said that there was never a gun involved. “My father would never allow me to carry a gun,” she said.