Justice Department Denies Arrest of 'Biri Marung' Hitmaker Tebogo G Mashego, Citing Public Safety Intervention

Justice Department Denies Arrest of ‘Biri Marung’ Hitmaker Tebogo G Mashego

Reports circulating on social media claimed that Tebogo G Mashego, the artist behind the hit song "Biri Marung," had been arrested in Pretoria West. However, the Justice Department has clarified that the musician was not arrested. Police intervention occurred due to alleged abnormal behavior and reported assaults.

Clarification on the Incident

Following the spread of a viral video depicting police placing Tebogo G Mashego in a van, the South Africa’s Justice, Crime Prevention and Security page on X (formerly Twitter) released a statement. The statement refuted claims of an arrest and explained that police were responding to a situation where Mashego allegedly displayed abnormal behaviour and assaulted people without cause.

"Tebogo G. Mashego has not been arrested. Information received indicates that he displayed an abnormal behaviour and allegedly acted violently, assaulting people without apparent cause. Laudium SAPS members were summoned to the scene and, in the interest of public safety, had to forcefully remove him from the community as he was visibly resisting."

Details of the Police Intervention

Authorities emphasized that the police intervention was solely for public safety. They aimed to correct the misinformation that quickly spread across social media platforms following the circulation of the video. The official statement highlights the concerns regarding Mashego’s alleged behavior.

Previous Incident in Nigeria

Prior to this incident, Tebogo G Mashego made headlines on Saturday, 20 September 2025, when a video surfaced of him expressing distress about being stranded in Nigeria. In the live recording, he voiced complaints against DJ Maphorisa and other unnamed industry figures, accusing them of wronging him. This incident adds another layer to the public’s perception of the artist's recent experiences.