Fierce government critic Nyokayemabhunu also known as Wellington Masiiwa who is facing extradition to Zimbabwe was back at a South African court last week facing charges of identity fraud.
Masiiwa appeared in the Randburg magistrate’s court on Tuesday.
The state, citing missing documentation, requested yet another postponement.
The court granted the delay, pushing the matter to August 20.
He has been in custody since his arrest on April 13 charged with violating that country’s immigration laws in what his sympathisers suspect is a pretext to initiate what has now become a politically motivated extradition battle.
On Tuesday, a visibly fatigued Masiiwa recorded a video in which he claimed he sought to clarify the status of his legal representatives.
This was after a group of ‘unfamiliar’ lawyers allegedly attempted to insert themselves into the proceedings, and submitted documents claiming to represent Nyokayemabhunu in his last court appearance.
According to the defence, the ‘shadowy’ legal team was allegedly part of a broader plot to secure Nyokayemabhunu’s release into the hands of South African agents for extradition to Zimbabwe.
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In the video, he renounced his legal team and announced his new “official spokesperson” one General Sithole, who has been linked to attempts to wrest control of Masiiwa’s legal defence from Chrispen Machingura.
“I need to clarify that I am not making this video under duress, or being forced to make these statements,” he said in the video.
The origin of the video, allegedly recorded within the court’s restricted holding area, remains murky.
Multiple sources alleged that Zimbabwean state security agents operating covertly in South Africa facilitated the production of the video to assert political dominance over a potentially sensitive extradition matter.
Sithole last week issued a statement that “the matter is now sitting on the desk of South Africa’s minister of Justice” — a claim that implies a looming extradition battle between Harare and Pretoria.
Under South Africa’s Extradition Act, the Justice minister only becomes formally involved after a valid extradition request is submitted by a foreign state and deemed procedurally sound.
The minister then issues a notice allowing a magistrate to open an inquiry into the matter.
After that, only if the magistrate commits the person for extradition, does the Minister make a final decision -which they may approve or reject based on legal, humanitarian, or political grounds.
The government has launched an extradition request alleging that Masiiwa committed fraud in 2014 over the sale of a residential stand.
So far, no official extradition request from Zimbabwe has been confirmed by South African authorities.
Masiiwa remains in South African custody, held not under extradition, but on criminal charges relating to identity fraud.
Last month, former Foreign Affairs Walter Mzembi, who initially fled the country during the coup that toppled Robert Mugabe and was based in South Africa for years was arrested when he returned home.
Mzembi was charged with skipping the country while on trial for alleged abuse of office and violating bail conditions. He has been battling for freedom since then.
