Businessman and motivational speaker Vusi Thembekwayo appeared briefly at the Randburg Magistrates Court today for allegedly assaulting his estranged wife. Thembekwayo is accused of assaulting his wife Palesa Mahlolo-Thembekwayo after allegedly forcing her to leave their marital home. Thembekwayo was arrested in December 2021 after he handed himself over to the police upon hearing that a case was opened against him at Douglasdale SAPS. He was charged with assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT 

Thembekwayo, who was seated on the third bench of the gallery in court waiting for his turn as he listened to other accused matters,was accompanied by a female friend and both of them were dressed in suits. Thembekwayo wore a navy-blue suit while the woman with short hair wore a black suit and they were in constant conversation whispering to each other. The accused was called to the stand and the state told the court that the matter will be partly heard. "It was on the roll for the defence case today. Unfortunately, the presiding officer is still on leave. A suitable date which was agreed to by all parties involved was set for a defence case," said the state.

A SAD TALE TO TELL

In her statement seen by ZiMoja, Mahlolo-Thembekwayo described her horrible ordeal where she claimed her estranged husband found her in bed, grabbed her by her legs and dragged her out of bed while hitting her several times on her face with an open hand. "I told him I was not going anywhere, and he put my clothes inside trash bags and put them in the boot of the car," she said. She added that he then dragged her down the stairs and forced her into the car while continuing to slap her. "Elifas, my driver, witnessed this when it happened. He then drove with me until he told me that he was taking me home. I then decided to come out of the car while the car was stationery at the traffic lights around the Kyalami area. He proceeded to drive away. I didn't have my phone with, and I saw a security patrol vehicle outside Kyalami Ridge complex, and I asked the security guard to call my sister Phephi to come and pick me up so she could drive me to Douglasdale SAPS," she said in her statement.

Thembekwayo is out on R1 000 bail and will be back in court in the second week of February.