High Court reserves judgment in Matjhabeng mayor's appeal

The convictions come from a February 2024 incident involving Khalipha's bodyguards. Odendaalsrus Magistrate Shaun Malander convicted him. In December 2024 he got a R5 000 fine or three months in prison for assault, and R1 000 or one month for each crimen injuria count.

Khalipha's legal team argues that the contact with his driver, Frank Moreroa, was a lawful attempt to stop a vehicle in danger. They say the words were swearing, not a deliberate attack on dignity. They also say the magistrate breached fair-trial rights and that the sentence was excessive. The State case is that Khalipha told Moreroa to stop and slapped him when he refused.

The ruling matters for the ANC before the local government elections on 4 November. Khalipha is number seven on the ANC list for Lejweleputswa District Municipality. Senior provincial committee members in the Free State said he needs the appeal to succeed or his name would be struck from the ballot.

Xolile Toki, the ANC Lejweleputswa regional chairperson, said keeping Khalipha in the party leadership group could damage the ANC at the ballot box. Critics and residents say the ANC undermines its own rules by keeping a convicted person on the list.