The famous Muvhango actor, Joe Ragwala, better known as Ntshavheni in the popular Tshivenda soapie Muvhango, said the murder conspiracy case against him is just a smear campaign.

Ragwala said this after he, his girlfriend, Dorries Mthembi, and two alleged hit men, Vincent Phakula (25) and Moses Ntlenana (24), walked away after bail was granted to them at the Thohoyandou Magistrate court on Tuesday.

In a judgment that shocked all and lasted less than 10 minutes, Magistrate J Du Plessis granted the four bail of R5 000 each, with stringent conditions. The soapie-like formal bail application had to be postponed several times before.

After the judgment, Ragwala kissed his girlfriend and shouted at the top of his voice that he was innocent and the court was going to prove his innocence.

Holding on to his girlfriend as if they hadn’t seen each other for a long time, he said the bail application victory is the first round in his battle to prove his innocence. “I cannot even hurt a fly and people who accuse me of plotting to kill somebody are a curse to society and they must be exposed,” he said.

He said his last resort was the courts that would vindicate him of all charges leveled against him. He added that all who are involved in the conspiracy against him just wanted to tarnish his good name and dent his good image. “The ruling by the magistrate is a sign of the good things to come. This decision vindicates me and all involved in the case and the courts are still going to prove to the country that we are innocent,” he said.

Ragwala said he was worried about the negative reporting on his case. “It seems as if we have been convicted already by the media, but all will be surprised as the courts will clear us once and for all,” he said. He thanked his fans who kept on sending him encouraging messages in his dark hour. “I am not going to disappoint them and I have some verses for them. They should read Psalms 35 and 91,” he said.

During the application, Ragwala pleaded with the courts to grant him bail, as he feared his part in the drama would not continue during his incarceration.

Ragwala (37), his girlfriend and the two alleged hit men stand accused of conspiring to kill wealthy Limpopo businessman Goddard Mugwena. They have since pleaded not guilty to the charge

Magistrate Du Plessis said the state’s case against the four was shaky and therefore he had no option but to release them on bail. The four are to appear again on November 5.

The complainant said he was still shocked about the outcome of the bail application. “I had thought these people would be kept in custody, until they answered for their deeds. I am very disappointed,” he said.

Meanwhile, three relatives of Dorries Mthembi appeared on intimidation charges on Wednesday last week. It is alleged that they intimidated Mugwena’s house cleaner. They were all granted bail.