TWO women who had approached the courts seeking justice after allegedly being assaulted by men known to them have withdrawn their respective criminal complaints, with one describing an alleged beating by her boyfriend as a mistake caused by alcohol.
The two separate matters came before Pigg’s Peak Magistrate Innocent Mahlalela, where Nomfundo Vilakati (38) and Khetsiwe Magagula decided not to proceed with assault charges against the men they had accused of attacking them.
In the first matter, Vilakati withdrew charges against Bheki Mamba (34), whom she had accused of touching her buttocks without her consent before allegedly assaulting her. According to the allegations, the incident occurred while Vilakati was returning from a bar. Mamba allegedly touched her buttocks, an action that reportedly resulted in a confrontation before he allegedly assaulted her.
Vilakati told the court that she told Mamba that she does not like what he was doing. She said he then assaulted her on the face with fists and she fell down. She said she woke up and proceeded to report the matter to the police who later arrested Mamba while he was on board a bus on his way home.
Despite having brought the matter before the court, Vilakati subsequently decided to withdraw the charges against Mamba. In the second matter, Magagula withdrew assault charges against her boyfriend, Seluleko Khumalo (26) of Masundvwini, whom she had accused of assaulting her with fists and kicks.
According to the allegations, the assault was so severe that neighbours had to intervene and rescue her from the alleged attack. However, when the matter came before Magistrate Mahlalela, Magagula offered an explanation that appeared to soften her earlier allegations against her boyfriend.
She told the court that Khumalo had assaulted her by mistake because he was somewhat intoxicated.
Magagula explained that her boyfriend had become upset after discovering that she was talking to her longtime friend. She said she had been speaking to the friend because she wanted assistance in finding ways to help her stop drinking alcohol. She told the court that his lover was upset after discovering their conversation which led to him assaulting her. She said she even escaped but Khumalo got hold of her.
She said he continued assaulting her until she called for help from neighbours who came and rescued her. She said the neighbours then took her to the police station where a case was opened.
