South African Man Claiming to Be Famous Musician to Remain in Jail - East Idaho News
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South African Man Claiming to Be Famous Musician to Remain in Jail

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Getty 092711 PrisonCellStock?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1328702626723iStockphoto/Thinkstock(JOHANNESBURG) — The man police say posed as a famous deceased South African musician will remain behind bars a few more days after his bail hearing was postponed on Tuesday.

The “imposter,” who authorities believe is 28-year-old Sibusiso John Gcabashe, was arrested on Sunday after he showed up at KhulekaniMqgumeniKhumalo’s home village, claiming to be the Zulu folk singer.  Thousands of people swarmed the village to catch a glimpse of the man they believed was Khumalo, prompting the deployment of riot police to keep the crowd under control.

Witnesses told local media he claimed to be the victim of witchcraft and was held hostage in a cave with zombies since 2009 when Khumalo was said to have died.

The Independent Online news site reports that two of Khumalo’s wives and his grandmother believed the man was the famous singer, but a former girlfriend told police she didn’t buy it because he had a scar she had never seen before.

Police said fingerprint analysis proves the man is not Khumalo. They are holding Gcabashe on fraud charges.  He will remain in jail until at least Feb. 14.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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