Mampintsha – Vicious or Victim?

On Monday morning, 4 March 2019, a horrific video of South African singer Babes Wodumo began circulating the internet. The video was an Instagram live stream in which Babes is shown being physically beaten by her long-term boyfriend, South African musician Mampintsha.[1]

The authenticity of the video and the identity of Mampintsha as the assailant was not independently verifiable [1], however the artist allegedly handed himself over to Westville Police Station in Durban on Tuesday morning following charges pressed by Babes.[6]

Shocking the nation, Mampintsha has laid a counter-charge against Babes in which he claims to have been a victim of assault, and that the video of Babes’ alleged beating was showing him acting in self-defence [4]. According to Mampintsha, Babes Wodumo arrived home drunk in the early hours of Monday morning, and upon receiving a scolding, proceeded to attack him. He claims that Babes is known to become incredibly aggressive when under the influence of alcohol, and has even assaulted her drivers in certain instances [3]. Mampintsha continued to say, “on that night Babes came home… and beat me up with a Gucci sandal on my lips and the sandal is as hard as a tyre… she made me do it.” [5]

Mampintsha was granted R2000 bail on Tuesday afternoon, and is to reappear at the Magistrate’s Court on the 15^th of May 2019 [6]. This news has enraged South Africans, many of whom have since taken to Twitter and Instagram to share their disgust with the outcome. A recent hashtag, namely #IfIWasBabes, has been trending as a way for tweeps to share how they would handle Babes’ situation [8]. Although this is mostly intended to show their support for her, the hashtag has been criticised – a tweet by @AndreaSharel stated, “If you have never lived her reality, you can’t ever begin to imagine her fear and pain / It’s easy to have an opinion, but it’s kinder to just be silent and empathise with someone who really needs it.”

Not only the general public have reacted in loathing to Babes’ assault. Somizi Mhlongo, a popular South African television personality, revealed on Monday that he has pulled out of an event booked by Mampintsha for May. He stated, “I can say now I am pulling out… I cannot be part of this. I am not going to keep quiet and support it. I am so angry right now.” [2] DJ Zinhle took to twitter on Monday stating, “Mampintsha needs to be stopped… hitting a woman is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. My heart breaks for Babes.” Other celebrities that voiced their abhorrence with the situation include radio personality Hulisani Ravele, television personality Janez Vermeiren, and rapper Boity Thulo. [1]

At the end of Mampintsha’s statement on Tuesday, he said, “despite all this drama, I still love Babes Wodumo.” [3] Whether this means that the two will work it out is unclear, and the lack of a statement from Babes makes it difficult to conclude the future of their relationship. For now, however, we wait to discover the outcome of Mampintsha’s appearance at the Magistrate’s Court in May as well as his case against Babes, and pray for Babes to make a quick recovery and get back on her feet.