When content creator and influencer Sni Mhlongo was arrested for speeding in Fourways last year, her life changed overnight. What started as a routine afternoon turned into public outrage that threatened her career, with brand deals being paused and projects affected.
Now, months later, Mhlongo is speaking openly about what happened, how it impacted her emotionally, and how she’s slowly rebuilding her name.
Around 4 PM on that day, Mhlongo was on her way to pick up a friend when she was pulled over by Johannesburg Metro Police officers. They accused her of speeding in a 60 km/h zone.
“I was confused,” she told 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 the officers, she was clocked at 104 km/h — enough for an immediate arrest. But Mhlongo questioned the figure. “They showed me the footage of my car,” she said, still unconvinced.
She was taken to Douglasdale police station but moved to Randburg due to overcrowding. “I was in a holding cell with five other people,” she recalled. Her outfit, a tiny skirt, made the experience even more traumatic, especially sharing the space with someone detained for abuse.
“I am there in this tiny skirt, and I’m just like, get me out of here,” she said. “Now, in hindsight, knowing that I didn’t even commit the crime I was being held for makes that whole experience more traumatic.”
As news broke, the backlash online was harsh.
“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 shared. “But none of that was true. I wasn’t speeding like that.”
Later, Mhlongo checked her vehicle’s tracker, which showed she was only going 69 km/h — within the allowed buffer.
“To be accused of something you didn’t do is one thing. But to be reduced to that one moment… it was heartbreaking,” she said.
Mhlongo admitted the incident affected her emotionally and professionally. “There were brands I was in talks with who suddenly went quiet.”
Despite the challenges, Mhlongo fought back by staying authentic. She spoke about the incident on her YouTube channel and clarified discrepancies in reports. After a long wait in court, the case was withdrawn on December 11.
Today, her hard work is paying off. She’s back working with top brands like Coca-Cola and Fashion Nova.
“Coming back to work with Fashion Nova years later is so affirming,” she said. “And Coke? That was a dream collab.”
