Mayor Tshabalala manhandles his lover

Maluti-a-Phofung mayor Vusi Tshabalala allegedly manhandled his lover Lerato Mdebuka at his Riverside, Phuthaditjhaba, home two weeks ago.
But Mdebuka said she did not report the matter to police because she feared Tshabalala would stop supporting her financially, which would ruin her credit record.
Tshabalala, through his lawyers, denied all allegations and challenged his lover to produce proof of the assault.
"Mr Tshabalala categorically denies any allegations of assault or violence...
"The person who makes these allegations is challenged to furnish proof thereof," the mayor's lawyer, Soli Maeyane, told Sunday World.
"... [Tshabalala] did not assault this person, so there is no reason to be advanced for [a] nonissue or false allegations. He who alleges must prove."
Mdebuka said she and Tshabalala had been having running battles for about a month.
But matters came to a head when the mayor demanded the keys to his car, a Mercedes-Benz, that Mdebuka had been using.
"At that time, he had missed depositing money into my account like he does every month on the 23rd.
"He took out loans using my name because he is blacklisted," Mdebuka said.
"My sin was to tell him to be responsible and take his child to a prize-giving ceremony. He then accused me of being big-headed because I was driving his car.
"He then demanded the [car] keys back. When I refused, he choked me and later took his gun out of the safe, cocked it and pointed it at me."
But Tshabalala, who in March opened a case of crimen injuria against police who had charged him with obstruction of justice, denied the allegations.
"The vehicle is owned by and is lawfully in Mr Tshabalala's possession.
"The child of Mr Tshabalala is currently living with his parents, but not the person who made these false, unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations," said his lawyer.
"Tshabalala's finances are private and confidential. But for public interest, [he] has no financial problems."
Mdebuka said Tshabalala was short tempered and alleged that he once sjambokked her.
"He swears at me and likes to remind me that he helped bury my mother in 2012," said Mdebuka.
"All I want is for him to settle the accounts and 2013 loan he took out in my name when he wanted to fund the ANC Youth League.