South African pop star broadcasts live footage of ‘her boyfriend’ assaulting her
- South African singer Babes Wodumo was doing a live broadcast on Instagram
- Video shows man, believed to be her partner, entering the room and beating her
- Star, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, deleted and re-uploaded the clip
- Police in South Africa are seeking Ms Simelane, 24, for a statement
A South African singer has allegedly accidentally broadcast live footage of her partner assaulting her in her home to her fans on social media.
Singer Babes Wodumo had been filming an Instagram Live session in her bedroom, when it was interrupted by a man, allegedly her boyfriend, fellow musician Mandla ‘Mampintsha’ Maphumulo, 36.
The following 38 seconds shows a woman, believed to be Babes Wodumo, being attacked, punched and pulled by the hair by the man.
The incident, recorded during an Instagram Live broadcast on Babes Wodumo’s social media account, has now become part of a police investigation
The shocking clip sparked outrage in South Africa, and has now become part of a police investigation.
‘The national commissioner has ordered police to trace the whereabouts of Ms Wodumo so that a statement can be obtained from her and a case opened if indeed it’s her being assaulted in the video,’ the police said in a statement.
Wodumo, whose real name is Bongekile Simelane, has declined to comment, but later re-posted the violent clip on her Instagram after the alleged attack.
Her team posted on her Twitter account that ‘we would like to thank everyone for the messages (of) support about the early morning video’.
The shocking clip shows a woman, believed to be 24-year-old singer Babes Wodumo, being attacked by a man, allegedly her boyfriend
Happier times: Big Nuz’s Mampintsha and Babes Wodumo are pictured during the 2016 MTV Africa Music Awards in Johannesburg three years ago
It is believed the shirtless man seen assaulting the young singer in the video is her long-term partner, aged 36
Wodumo, a celebrated performer of gqom music which blends traditional African sounds with house music, will issue a statement later Monday, it added.
Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Twitter she was ‘absolutely horrified’ by the assault.
A slew of high-profile women in the entertainment industry have posted messages of support for Wodumo.
‘My heart is really sad for Babes Wodumo and no women should have to go through this,’ wrote DJ Tira on her Instagram.