Arthur Mafokate Sues Ex-Girlfriend Cici for R1.5 Million Over Defamation Claims
Kwaito legend Arthur Mafokate has once again made headlines, adding another legal battle to his long list of court cases. The 56-year-old music icon has filed a fresh lawsuit against his former girlfriend, singer and actress Busisiwe “Cici” Thwala, this time accusing her of harassment, defamation, and loss of income.
According to Daily Sun, Arthur Mafokate has approached the Johannesburg High Court, demanding R1.5 million in damages from Cici. He claims she falsely accused him of assault and attempted murder, allegations he says have severely damaged his reputation and career.
The legal dispute stems from a highly publicised incident nearly nine years ago, when Cici (38) opened a case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm against Arthur Mafokate at the Midrand Police Station. The case followed an altercation that reportedly led to Cici being hospitalised and undergoing a hip operation.
After years of legal proceedings, Arthur Mafokate was acquitted in 2019 by the Midrand Magistrates Court. The court dismissed the assault charges, clearing the Kwaito king of all wrongdoing.
However, in his court papers, Arthur Mafokate alleges that despite his acquittal, Cici returned to social media in September 2025, where she allegedly published “false and malicious” statements on platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. He claims she accused him of assaulting and almost killing her, effectively reopening a case that had already been settled by the courts.
The Kaffir hitmaker further alleges that Cici posted X-ray images showing screws used to stabilise her pelvic bones, which he says were presented in a way that implied he was responsible for her injuries. Arthur Mafokate maintains that these posts led the public and Cici’s followers to believe he is violent and abusive, despite the court’s findings.
“The said criminal case was subsequently dismissed, and the plaintiff was cleared of all charges, confirming that the allegations by the defendant were false, malicious, and baseless,” Arthur stated in the court documents.
Arthur Mafokate takes it a step further
The Mzansi Kwaito King says his legal team sent Cici a formal letter of demand, instructing her to stop publishing defamatory content, remove all existing posts, issue a public written apology, and provide a written undertaking that she would not repeat such conduct in the future.
While some content was allegedly removed, Arthur Mafokate claims Cici refused to apologise, describing her response as “showing him the proverbial middle finger.”
As a result, Arthur Mafokate says he has suffered significant reputational harm, humiliation, emotional distress, and loss of business opportunities. He argues that the renewed allegations have negatively affected his standing in the entertainment industry and undermined decades of work as one of South Africa’s most influential musicians.
This lawsuit follows an earlier case brought by Arthur Mafokate in the Johannesburg High Court, where he sought an order compelling Cici to pay him outstanding royalties for music he claims he is owed.
Source – Daily Sun
