Tabitha Madzikanda, the former mother-in-law of controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo, has been arrested as investigations intensify around alleged leaked images involving Cyril Ramaphosa and a widening family dispute.
The arrest was confirmed on Tuesday by lawyer Rungano Mahuni, who said Tabitha and Chivayo’s ex-wife, Sonja Madzikanda, are expected to appear in court on Wednesday after Sonja spent the night in police custody.
Mahuni said police had not yet formally clarified all the charges but indicated investigators mentioned allegations linked to the unauthorised distribution of content and undermining the authority of the president.
The case has attracted major political attention because it reportedly centres on images and videos allegedly showing Chivayo together with Ramaphosa before the South African president’s recent visit to Zimbabwe.
An image said to be extracted from a video circulated online on Monday, sparking renewed questions over earlier statements from Ramaphosa’s office claiming the South African leader had not known Chivayo before meeting him during a visit hosted by Emmerson Mnangagwa.
According to police sources, Chivayo has now alleged that the images were artificially manipulated using artificial intelligence technology in an attempt to falsely suggest prior meetings with Ramaphosa.
Investigators reportedly claim Tabitha Madzikanda created or distributed the altered material in a bid to damage Ramaphosa politically and negatively affect Chivayo’s business interests in South Africa.
Police have reportedly confiscated Tabitha’s mobile phone as part of efforts to verify allegations of digital image manipulation.
The controversy has added fresh pressure to the South African presidency after presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya previously insisted that Chivayo was unknown to Ramaphosa before their encounter in Zimbabwe.
Alongside the political allegations, Tabitha Madzikanda also faces separate fraud accusations linked to a trust account reportedly established for Chivayo’s children.
Police sources allege that Tabitha, an executive at FBC Bank, attempted to withdraw approximately US$1.4 million from the trust by allegedly trying to remove Chivayo as a signatory.
Investigators claim the funds were allegedly intended for land purchases and the construction of cluster houses.
Separately, Chivayo reportedly accused Sonja Madzikanda of violating the terms of a High Court order regulating access to their two minor children, potentially exposing her to contempt of court proceedings.
Neither Chivayo nor the South African presidency had publicly commented on the latest arrests at the time of publication.
The developments further deepen a rapidly expanding controversy involving allegations of political influence, family conflict, artificial intelligence manipulation, and cross-border business interests.
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