Sibongile Mashaba

Sibongile Mashaba

Controversial Jozi FM DJ Zuluboy, who faces a robbery charge for allegedly stealing a television set, was released on R2000 bail in the Protea magistrate's court yesterday.

Zuluboy, real name Mbuyiselwa Mhlanga,was arrested at his home in Dube, Soweto, on June 11.

His defence counsel, Goodman Nukeri, told the court that Mhlanga would plead not guilty to the charge.

The state alleges that Zuluboy was among a group of men armed with an assortment of weapons who entered a Mozambican national's home in Senaoane, Soweto, and demanded that he return to his country on May 25.

This was at the height of xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals.

The state also alleges that Zuluboy and the group asked the complainant where he came from and when he told them that he was from Mpumalanga, they took his 92cm television set and fled with it.

"My client was asleep on the day of the arrest. He heard noise outside and went to inspect it," said Nukeri.

"When he saw the police he asked what was happening. They told him that they were looking for Zuluboy.

"The complainant had pointed out my client's brother as the man who was present when his television set was stolen."

Both Zuluboy and his brother were arrested. The brother was later released, while Zuluboy remained in custody.

The accused was warned to appear again in court on July 31. The case was postponed to allow investigations to continue.

Prosecutor Job Masina told the court that Zuluboy had a previous conviction for assault, but he did not oppose his bail application.