UPDATE: Mampintsha granted R2K bail, to reappear in May
He apparently intends to claim that he's the victim in the relationship and was defending himself.
Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo has been granted bail of R2,000 in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court. He will reappear in court on 15 May.
The magistrate instructed him to avoid any contact with his accuser. He was reportedly suffering from a foot injury in court.
In a new twist on Tuesday afternoon, Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo’s lawyer has said that his client is in fact the victim following outrage at a video clip showing Maphumulo appearing to hit partner Babes Wodumo, real name Bongekile Simelane.
The under-fire Kwaito musician has apparently also laid counter-assault charges against the Gqom singer, claiming the widely publicised Instragram video showing him slapping her several times was in fact him defending himself, his lawyer said on Tuesday.
Speaking to eNCA outside the Westville Police Station in Durban where Mampintsha had handed himself over to police custody after Wodumo, laid a common assault charge against him, lawyer Pat Magwaza said: “He was assaulted so he has opened a case of assault against Bongisile Simelane.
“At this stage from what I’ve heard from him in consultation, it was before the video. He was then defending himself when the video was made.”
He said his client did not “take this well because it looks like a setup”.
In the live Instagram feed on Sunday night, Mampintsha can be seen hitting Wodumo who is shown sobbing and cowering in apparent fear.
Magwaza said Mampintsha was expected to appear in court this afternoon.
The sign was there all along he was ready to fight this guy now his laid a counter charge he claim he was abused all along wow #Mampintsha #BabesWodumo pic.twitter.com/Bot097qvpp
— gudani madzivha mute (@MuteleGudani) March 5, 2019
The South African Police Service (SAPS) confirmed earlier today that he was arrested after Simelane laid an assault charge against him yesterday.
Mampintsha has opened a counter charge against Babes WoDumo according to his legal representative Mr. Magwaza. Apparently he went a night before the assault to Westville Police station to write a statement that he was being abused. Don't expect a desired justice from this case.
— Black Lawyer (@nrrattorneys) March 5, 2019
Mampintsha has cunningly laid a counter charge against his girlfriend!
— Shange Sbusiso (@Mdima14) March 5, 2019
Brigadier Vishnu Naidoo confirmed the news when approached by The Citizen.
#sapsHQ The Suspect in the Babes Wodumo case has been Arrested and is currently in police custody. He will be processed and will appear in court soon. ME pic.twitter.com/5dCxgTmGpS
— SA Police Service 🇿🇦 (@SAPoliceService) March 5, 2019
JUST IN: Police have confirmed that #Mampintsha has been arrested for assaulting @BABESWODUMO. Police spokesperson Brig. Vish Naidoo says he will be processed and taken to court soon. #BabesWodumo #Mampintsha @TheCitizen_News
— Rorisang Kgosana (@therealrorisang) March 5, 2019
This followed an earlier search for Maphumulo, who was reported missing this morning.
Police commissioner General Khehla Sitole was interviewed on SABC’s Morning Live, where he gave the police three hours to find and apprehend producer and Kwaito musician Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo.
This three-hour deadline began at 7am and ended at 10am.
READ MORE: ‘Media release’ claims Babes-Mampintsha video was faked for a campaign
An Instagram Live video, posted by Simelane, in which she can be seen being beaten, allegedly by Mampintsha, has caused widespread shock and outrage.
The Citizen reported yesterday that Simelane was seen at the Westville Police Station in Durban on Monday. The family spokesperson, Sakhile Mhlonishwa, confirmed an assault case was opened.
UPDATE: Police have confirmed that they have still NOT arrested or even found #Mampinthsa – they say there is a warrant out for his arrest & are urging him or someone with him to come forward
— Leanne Manas (@LeanneManas) March 5, 2019
The footage of the incident was apparently from a live Instagram video broadcast she was doing with fans overnight.
Although she or someone else allegedly deleted the original video, clips of it have nevertheless been doing the rounds, especially on Twitter, where the videos have trended throughout Monday.
Mampintsha has been accused of abusing Babes before.
READ MORE: EFF to lay criminal charges against Mampintsha
In a radio interview on Metro FM in May 2018, DJ Masechaba Ndlovu confronted Simelane about reports of abuse. The singer did not confirm or deny the allegations. Masechaba was called names and vilified when she outed the alleged abuse Simelane went through at the hand of Maphumulo.
Maphumulo later responded to the allegations saying he was no saint and appeared on the same radio show asking people to pray for them as a couple.
Babes Wodumo’s family have thanked South Africa for supporting her and her father revealed that she had been admitted to hospital following the incident.
(Compiled by Daniel Friedman and Charles Cilliers. Additional reporting by ANA)
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