‘Mampintsha’ turned down after ‘assault’

The University of the Western Cape (UWC) has rejected an application from West Ink Productions, owned by music producer and kwaito star Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo, to hold an event at its stadium.

The event was set to take place on May 4.

UWC spokesperson Gasant Abarder told EWN the university’s stakeholders were consulted and it was decided to refuse the request because of Maphumulo’s alleged assault of his girlfriend, gqom queen Babes Wodumo, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane.

“While the university respects due process and the rule of law, it cannot in good conscience allow an event to take place on its campus involving an individual who has been implicated in an incident of gender-based violence,” he said.

A video in which Babes can be seen being beaten, allegedly by Maphumulo, outraged South Africans. Although she or someone else allegedly deleted the original video from her Instagram account, clips of it have been doing the rounds, especially on Twitter, where the videos trended earlier this week.

Maphumulo was granted bail of R2 000 after appearing in the Pinetown Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.

He will reappear in court on May 15. The magistrate instructed him to avoid any contact with his accuser. He reportedly had a foot injury when he was in court on Tuesday.

In a new twist on Tuesday afternoon, Maphumulo’s lawyer said his client was, in fact, the victim. The Kwaito musician has apparently laid counter-assault charges against the gqom singer.

He is claiming that the widely publicised Instagram video showing him slapping her several times was, in fact, self-defence, his lawyer said.