Simphiwe “Sbali” Mlambo, a South African social media figure, entertainer, and amateur boxer from Newcastle, now stands accused in a case that has left the community deeply unsettled. Once recognised for his comedic skits and boxing achievements, Mlambo now faces allegations of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl.
On Monday, 22 September 2025, Mlambo, who hails from Osizweni and lives with dwarfism, appeared briefly before the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court.
The solemn atmosphere highlighted the gravity of the situation as court officials confirmed that he would remain in custody until his bail hearing scheduled for Monday, 29 September 2025, with Legal Aid appointed to represent him.
His arrest on Saturday, 13 September 2025, followed an incident at a hair salon on Kirkland Street in Newcastle’s Central Business District. Speaking with Newcastillian News, Zethembiso Ndabezitha, the victim’s aunt, explained that her niece had gone to the hairsalon where the incident transpired.
“My niece went to have her hair braided as she was set to take part in a Spelling Bee Competition. While at the hairsalon, she noticed the accused staring at her and when she became extremely uncomfortable at the way he was looking at her, my niece pulled out her cellphone to play with it, hoping this would put him off,” Ms Ndabezitha told Newcastillian News.
However, the encounter then escalated. Ms Ndabezitha stated that Mlambo approached the girl, rubbed her thighs, and forced his hands under her skirt, touching her underwear, despite the girl asking him to stop.
“My niece immediatly began screaming, and was told by people in the salon to calm down as he was just playing. Only one of the salons staff, a man, told the accused to back off and that is when he ran away,” she explained.
The terrified girl immediately phoned her mother, who works in Johannesburg, and her mother instructed Ms Ndabezitha to reach her urgently. The family reported the incident to Newcastle SAPS, who referred them to the Thuthuzela Care Centre at Madadeni Hospital to open a case.
“We had to go there on the Saturday, as the Thuthuzela Centre was closed when we arrived. From there, we returned to the Newcastle SAPS, and while we were there, the police had managed to locate the accused and brought him to the station. My niece immediately started crying and peed herself when she saw the accused enter the station,” Ms Ndabezitha said.
Moreover, the ordeal has left the young girl traumatised.
Ms Ndabezitha explained, “She does not even want to wear skirts anymore, because she now thinks this is what led to her being assaulted, even though her school skirt was not short at all, as per the school’s regulations. The family is also taking this extremely hard, and my niece’s father is now taking steps to ensure she receives some form of self defence training to help restore her confidence. Her school has shown immense support during this difficult time, as have local social workers. However, the investigating officer’s silence is frustrating, as the family has to ask other police officers what’s going on with the case, and if we had not come to court on Monday, we would not have been notified of what had transpired today,” she added.
Despite persistent efforts to obtain comment from the South African Police Service, no response has been forthcoming. Newcastillian News submitted a media query and even sent a journalist to Newcastle SAPS, but no information about the suspect’s arrest has been released.
More than a week after the incident and despite the bail application now set, the family remains frustrated by the delays and lack of communication, feeling sidelined in their pursuit of justice. Given that this case involves the alleged assault of a child in a public setting, they argue that decisive action and full transparency from law enforcement are essential to ensure that the teenage girl can find justice.
It should be noted that Mlambo was once seen as an inspirational figure, gaining popularity through comedic skits and motivational posts on Facebook and YouTube.
His page, “Simphiwe Sbali,” which has more than 327,000 likes, refers to him as “The Artist,” and he was celebrated as a symbol of resilience for people living with disabilities. In 2021, he garnered national attention with “The Battle of Abaphansi,” an amateur boxing match against Thabo “The Terrible” Mokoena, who also lives with dwarfism. Billed as “the shortest match ever,” the bout followed a 2020 brawl and ended with Mlambo winning by third-round knockout, earning him the title “champion of abaphansi.”
The incident has left the family determined to see justice served and has sparked heartfelt concern within the Newcastle community. Many are rallying behind the young girl, calling for a transparent and decisive legal process that prioritises her well-being. As the bail hearing draws near, the case has become a test of faith in the justice system, with residents hoping for an outcome that restores the girl’s sense of safety and reassures other parents that such acts will not be tolerated.
This is a developing story, therefore, Newcastillian News will keep our readers updated on further developmenets.
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One Response
Hope justice is served for that poor young girl