Thobela speaks up on arrest, says he is not a 'mashonisa'

Dingaan Thobela has denied claims that he ran a cash-lending business in Soweto, which resulted in his arrest this week.

Police announced on Wednesday that they had arrested the former world boxing champions for contravention of the financial advisory and intermediary services act.

After retiring from professional boxing, Thobela branched out and founded his own funeral parlour in Soweto.

Dubbed the 'Rose of Soweto,' Thobela found himself in trouble with the law for apparently putting a spin on  his funeral business and becoming a loan shark, known popularly in the township as 'mashonisa'.

Thobela has vehemently denied this, telling The Sowetan that his arrest related to the terms and conditions of his burial schemes.

Thobela said he was not arrested and put in jail per se but was required to appear in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. He was let off on bail of R3 000.

"I was in court not jail. The reason was that some of our clients do not understand they must pay the difference on the top-up cover.

"This actually happened in 2010 and it was the follow-up of that. It was just a misunderstanding by our clients and the Funeral Service Bureau did not look into the whole matter..." said Thobela.