Mbalula intervenes in alleged assault by Phala
Local cops rejected woman’s case against soccer star
The office of Police Minister Fikile Mbalula is investigating allegations of assault against soccer star Thuso Phala.
Phala’s name was trending on social media this week after two women accused him and his friends of assaulting them.
The news caught Mbalula’s attention – who told Sowetan yesterday that his office had been looking into the allegations. “I’ve since referred the matter to the relevant department to investigate further. We can’t turn a blind eye to abuse. The pictures which were shared on social media were gruesome, it was as if that woman was in a boxing ring. “It’s not about who is involved. It’s about ordinary women who sought help on social media and we were told that they were struggling to open a case, so I personally stepped in,” he added.
The SuperSport United midfielder was allegedly involved in a brawl at Stoep 15, a pub in Alexandra, Johannesburg, early Monday morning. A woman was hit with a beer bottle on her head during the fracas.
Speaking to Sowetan yesterday, one of the women in the brawl, Zinhle Mbatha, said she was attacked by a woman who was with Phala, while the soccer player attacked her friend. “I was talking to Thuso when out of nowhere I heard a bang on my head and I was kneeling on the floor with a bloodied face. “The woman hit me with a beer bottle.
I don’t even know her but when I tried to fight back Thuso restrained me and left me there,” Mbatha, 26, said. She said the star, whom she has known for over eight years, left her on the floor and went to his car outside the pub with the woman. Mbatha’s friend Tumi Ntlhaeng, 27, said she followed Phala and the woman to the car when she was attacked by him. “I went to talk to them and asked why my friend was hit. I tried talking to the woman who was sitting in the car. “Phala and two other men blocked me from talking to her. He [Phala] strangled me and then started insulting me and told me that there is nothing I could do because he knew people,” Ntlhaeng said. According to the women the police at Alexandra police station refused to open a case. Phala’s phone was off but his team SuperSport United released a statement.
“SuperSport United has become aware of allegations of abuse involving Thuso Phala circulating on social media.
“The club has spoken to the player, who denies the allegations and has sought legal advice against these defamatory allegations,” it read. The club added: “SuperSport United will let the law take its course, suffice to say that the club condemns violence of any form, especially against women and children.”