When content creator and influencer Sni Mhlongo was arrested for speeding in Fourways last year, it wasn’t just the flashing blue lights that stopped her in her tracks—it was the wave of public scrutiny that followed. ‘
The incident placed her at the centre of online outrage, threatening her career with brand deals suddenly being put on hold, and projects that had been in the works being affected.
Now, months later, Mhlongo is speaking candidly about the experience, the emotional toll, and her ongoing journey of reclaiming her narrative.
What started as a routine day quickly spiraled. At around 4 pm, Mhlongo was driving to pick up a friend when she was pulled over by JMPD officers, accused of speeding in a 60 km/h zone.
“I was confused,” she recalled in an interview with IOL. “They told me I was speeding and needed to park on the side. I kept thinking maybe it’s because I was driving a nice car.”
According to officers, she had been clocked at 104 km/h—just enough to warrant immediate arrest. But Mhlongo has always questioned that figure. “They showed me the footage of my car.”
She was taken to Douglasdale police station before being moved to Randburg due to overcrowding. “I was in a holding cell with five other people.”
Her experience being in a holding cell for the very first time is something that Mhlongo won’t be able to forget anytime soon. Mhlongo recalls how her outfit was not appropriate for a holding cell, and she was also detained with someone who was being detained for abuse.
“I am there in this tiny skirt, and I’m just like, get me out of here. Now, in hindsight, knowing that I didn't even commit the crime I was being held for makes that whole experience more traumatic.”
As the news broke of Mhlongo’s arrest, online backlash was swift and brutal, painting her as reckless and entitled.
“I was getting DMs from strangers telling me I’m not better than anyone else, that I think I’m a celebrity and can drive however I want,” she says. “But none of that was true. I wasn’t speeding like that.”
Mhlongo does not view herself as being a “celebrity”, as she is an influencer, but acknowledges that influencers have become public figures recognised by many. She is also the daughter of actress Brenda Mhlongo, who has appeared on top shows such as "Generations: The Legacy" and "Imbewu," and artistic director Edmund Mhlongo.
“I think it's so unfortunate that people don't, almost don't recognize us as people.
“We're public faces, but surely people can still see that we are just as human as they are. Having people speak to me like I'm not real or speak about me like I'm not real, and like I'm this entity. I still struggle with it to this day, I don't think it's something that I will get used to.”
Mhlongo later checked her vehicle’s tracking data, which revealed she was only going 69 km/h—barely above the limit and within the 10 km/h buffer often allowed by traffic enforcement.
“To be accused of something you didn’t do is one thing. But to be reduced to that one moment... it was heartbreaking,” she says. “It felt like people stopped seeing me as human.”
The incident not only affected her emotionally, but it also cast a shadow over her professional life.
“There were brands I was in talks with who suddenly went quiet. People weren’t sure what to believe. And it was frustrating because the truth wasn’t sensational enough for headlines.”
Mhlongo has since fought hard to rebuild her image, leaning into authenticity and transparency.
She addressed the incident on her YouTube channel, and she has opened up about the discrepancies between her tracker data and what was reported by JMPD.
“The best we could do was just dispute the things that they were saying in the article that were incorrect, but the merits of the case we couldn't say, and I couldn't defend myself, and that was horrible.”
On her last appearance, which was on December 11, which was a day that included a long wait, but when their case number was finally called and Mhlongo took the stand, she was told the case had been withdrawn.
Despite the fallout, Mhlongo’s resilience is paying off. She’s back working with top-tier brands, including Coca-Cola and Fashion Nova.
“Fashion Nova was one of my first brand deals, but at the time, online shopping wasn’t that big in SA. Coming back to work with them years later is so affirming,” she says. “And Coke? That was a dream collab. Especially as someone who doesn’t drink—it just made sense.”
IOL Entertainment