The cases of fraud and theft against former Muvhango actor Joseph Ragwala and Doris Mthembi were postponed and the two will now have to appear in the Sibasa regional court on the 11th of April. The two appeared in the Thohoyandou court two weeks ago. They will also have to answer to allegations that they conspired to have well-known local businessman Mr Goddard Mugwena killed.

Mthembi and Ragwala appeared in the Sibasa regional court on February 11, facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder, fraud, theft and trespassing. Two men who were allegedly hired to do the dirty work, Moses Ntsenene and Vincent Phukhula, appeared in court with them. The case was postponed to April 11.

Following the latest court appearance, Ragwala and Mthembi were granted bail of R1 500 and R2 000 respectively.

A warrant was previously issued to search Mthembi and Ragwala´s house. During the raid, the goods that were allegedly removed from Goddard Mugwena´s home were found in their possession. According to the police spokesperson, Const Avhafarei Tshiovhe, police confiscated two bedroom suites, a fridge, a computer, a dining room suite, a washing machine, plates, chairs and electric appliances.

Mugwena blamed the police and justice system for not assisting him in recovering his goods. He said some of the goods were still missing. “If the police had not been dragging their feet, my goods would have been recovered before being sold. Some of them (the goods) were damaged," he said. Mugwena estimated the goods to be worth about R270 000, but items worth only slightly more than R100 000 were recovered. He appealed to people who may have bought the goods to contact him before it is too late.

Doris Mthembi also appeared in the Makhado Regional Court on Monday (5th) on a charge of perjury and her case was postponed to the 5th of April. This follows after she allegedly told police that she had been kidnapped by Mugwena and held at gunpoint at Nkowankowa on 31 September last year. She allegedly told the police that Mugwena had driven her to Louis Trichardt, where he had allegedly raped her. The matter was investigated by the police, whereafter Doris was charged with perjury.