Ambitiouz Entertainment rapper Jabulani “Sjava” Hadebe has, after days of backlash, broken his silence on the allegations that he raped songstress Yamikani “Lady Zamar” Banda.
Sjava speaks out: Here’s the rapper’s side of the story
Since the publication of a Sunday World article on 1 March, the social media hate train has been after the multi-platinum-selling rapper.
The salacious article had alleged to have been privy to information from the Thohoyandou police concerning an active inquest into rape charges that were allegedly laid by the Monarch star in November 2019.
The article notes that Zamar, in her statement to police, had told of an evening where Sjava had allegedly raped her. It was on the night of the Royal Heritage Festival in Limpopo, that took place in September 2017, she claimed.
Without considering the rapper’s response to the scandal, cancel culture came after Sjava. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) is, thus far, first on the bill to drop the rapper from their lineup, in solidarity with Zamar, the perceived victim.
Sjava, however, has provided his side of the story in timeline form, drawing attention to how he has been treated since the singer accused him of abuse in late 2019.
“There are a number of reasons I have not spoken about this matter in public and chose to rather follow the legal process. Kodwa [However], it has now become impossible to remain quiet. At the same time, I am only going to share information that is necessary to share due to the latest news reports. It is not my intention to stand trial by social media,” he wrote.
This is the timeline of events that took place since Zamar made abuse allegations, according to Sjava:
- October 2019: Zamar accuses Sjava of abuse right after his sold-out One Night with Sjava concert event that was held on 27 October 2019;
- 1 November 2019: A letter of demand was issued to Zamar’s management, instructing them to retract the statements the artist made on social media;
- 11 November 2019: After no response was received, Sjava’s attorneys requested an address to serve Zamar. Zamar’s management forwarded the address a day later;
- 13 November 2019: Zamar was served with summons for defamation charges;
- 14 November 2019: Zamar filed rape charges in Pretoria, detailing the alleged horror she faced on that September 2017 evening.
- 5 December 2019: Sjava was questioned by Thohoyandou police about the allegations. He was told that he was not formally charged, the matter would be determined by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA);
- January 2020: After failing to hear back from the police, the rapper followed up with the case, to find out if the NPA had reached a decision. “They said no decision to prosecute had yet been made.”
- 24 February 2020: Sjava’s lawyers followed up with Zamar’s representatives regarding the defamation charge that they were trying to finalise with the courts.
“We had to serve the notices via email after both the Johannesburg and Pretoria offices of her lawyers were empty on 19 and 20 February 2020. Actually, my lawyers have told me that the Johannesburg address given by her lawyers does not seem to exist,” the rapper wrote.
- 26 February 2020: Sunday Sun contacted Sjava regarding the exclusive they were preparing to publish on 1 March. They submitting a number of questions which Sjava found to be inadequate. The rapper refused to respond to the questions for a number of reasons, including the fact that he was advised by the police engaged in the rape inquest to not speak with the media. The rapper, however, has called into question the officers from Thohoyandou who allegedly gave up information on the case to the newspaper when he was not informed of his status in the probe.
“We are looking at our options regarding SAPS talking to the media/public in light of the fact that I have not been charged and I have not even seen the docket or been informed about anything by the SAPS,” the statement concluded.
At this time, Zamar has not furnished a response to the rapper’s statement.
