Babes Wodumo assault: Simelane family speaks out
Local artist, Bongekile Simelane’s family has thanked the South Africans for their support over the past two days after she was assaulted.
Simelane, whose stage name is Babes Wodumo, posted a video on Instagram over the weekend showing a man - thought to be her partner, Mandla 'Mampintsha' Maphumulo - hitting her.
Yesterday, Simelane opened an assault case at the Westville Police Station but no-one has been arrested as of yet.
Her family held a press conference in Durban a short while ago.
Simelane's parents - Reverend Welcome Simelane and his wife Thokozile Simelane addressed members of the press in Durban a shortwhile ago.
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She had been expected to join them but reporters have been told while she's in a stable condition, she is still receiving medical care and was unable to attend.
The reverend read out a brief statement on behalf of the Simelane family which was largely a message of thanks to those who have rallied around his daughter during this time.
His wife, who today spoke for the first time since the video surfaced, also echoed these sentiments.
At the same time, police say they've launched an investigation into claims by Simelane's father that Maphumulo has police in his pocket.
Reverend Simelane claimed during a radio interview yesterday that Maphumulo had bribed officers at Westville Police Station so the abuse allegations against him are not investigated.
National police spokesperson, Vish Naidoo says they view the claims in a serious light.
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"Since we heard that, we have spoken to the family of Babes Wodumo. We are looking to obtain a statement from the father and get to the bottom of this - so that we can take the necessary actions to conduct a criminal and a department investigation," Naidoo said.
Naidoo says no one is above the law.
"People must know that nobody irrespective of what position, or status, nobody will be above the law. Nobody can commit serious and heinous crimes and expect to get away with it - thinking that they have somebody in a high position within the organisation or that they can bribe their way out of it."
Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police says it is also concerned by the allegations made by Simelani's father - urging officers to probe the matter.
