The Randburg Magistrate's Court extended the bail of Longwe Twala, the son of legendary music producer Chicco Twala, and placed him under house arrest from 6am to 6pm until his trial concludes.
This comes after he was charged with contempt of court due to his absence from the October 25 hearing, regarding the alleged theft of his father’s studio equipment.
Longwe claimed that he had been unwell and had instructed his aunt to inform the court of his condition
During his appearance on Monday, the magistrate, Abdul Khan, said Longwe's explanation regarding his court absence was reasonable.
Following his failure to appear in court, a warrant of arrest was issued, and he was rearrested on 26 November in Diepkloof, Soweto.
Magistrate Khan said because he was found at the address he had provided; it couldn't be concluded that he violated his bail conditions.
As a result, his bail was extended. He will continue staying at his aunt's home in Diepkloof.
“If the police come there and look for you and you breach the conditions, you will be arrested,” Khan said.
The magistrate added that during his house arrest, he was prohibited from consuming drugs or alcohol and was further warned that he may be subject to random testing for substances.
Moreover, he was ordered not to enter his father's premises.
His arrest stems from a theft complaint lodged by his father, who accused both Longwe and his younger brother, Sello, of breaking into his home and making off with recording equipment valued at over R200 000 while he was abroad on business.
The stolen items also included clothes, household items and equipment.
This was not the first time Twala has handed his son to the authorities. In 2020, Longwe was handed over to the Diepkloof police station for allegedly stealing a cellphone.
The matter was postponed to February 25, 2025.